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

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged a responsible approach to artificial intelligence (AI) and a more open digital trade regime to ensure developing nations benefit from technological progress. Speaking at the 5th Global Digital Trade Expo in Hangzhou, China, he praised China's progress in visualisation and AI while highlighting their willingness to share advancements with the Global South.

Anwar, the Malaysian finance minister, emphasised Malaysia's focus on using AI to increase productivity, enable smaller firms to compete, and promote industrialisation into higher-value work. He cautioned that "either we govern artificial intelligence or artificial intelligence will govern us," calling for an ethics-based framework to ensure innovation serves humanity.

Anwar addressed the digital divide and the risk of widening the gap between wealthy and developing nations, warning that AI's exponential growth could lead to inequality if it doesn't benefit developing countries. He stressed that true economic growth requires addressing the technology gap and the importance of nations having a say in their future rather than being dependent on foreign technologies.

The Prime Minister's three-day visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou, which concluded today, comes as China remains Malaysia's largest trading partner for 17 consecutive years, with bilateral trade reaching US$113.82 billion (RM456.68 billion) from January to August of this year.