ASEAN’s AI hub race raises growth hopes — and risks for workers, SMEs and the environment

ASEAN’s race to become a new AI hub is accelerating, as Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand pour money into semiconductors, data centres and AI adoption, but the boom is also exposing the region to mounting risks — from job displacement and widening inequality to energy shortages, water stress and fears of a technology bubble.

Across the region, technology companies are moving rapidly to develop artificial intelligence that can perform tasks previously done by humans.