‘Govern AI or it will govern us,’ Anwar warns in China

Hangzhou, Sept 24 — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim urged for an ethically-driven approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and a more open, rules-based digital trade regime during the opening ceremony of the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou. Acknowledging China's progress in visualisation and AI, Anwar highlighted China's role in sharing technological advancements with the Global South.

He emphasized that China's willingness to continue contributing to globalisation is remarkable. At the five-day expo, Anwar, also Malaysia's Finance Minister, stated that Malaysia's AI objectives include raising productivity, assisting smaller firms in competing, and moving industries into higher-value work. He stressed that Malaysians should benefit from technological change rather than merely endure its consequences.

"Either we govern artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence will govern us," Anwar warned, advocating for an ethics-based framework to ensure innovation and technological advancement serve humanity. The Prime Minister emphasized the digital divide as a recurring issue, particularly as nations pursue rapid technological advancement amidst socio-economic inequalities.

He questioned whether AI's exponential growth would only widen the gap between wealthy and developing nations, advanced and developing economies. Anwar stressed that true economic advancement cannot occur without addressing the technology gap and that real technology expansion cannot be sustained without considering the technology gap.