BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Synthetic intelligence will probably be central to Brunei’s subsequent Digital Economic system Grasp Plan, authorities officers stated Tuesday, with the present five-year masterplan wrapping up in 2025.
“Brunei is within the technique of getting ready a Information and AI Technique as half of a bigger initiative — a nationwide roadmap that defines our long-term strategy to synthetic intelligence,” stated Hj Hairul Mohd Daud Hj Abdul Karim, performing everlasting secretary on the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications.
The performing everlasting secretary delivered the keynote speech at a coverage seminar on synthetic intelligence, organised by the EU-Brunei Darussalam Partnership Facility.
Hj Hairul said that AI will probably be a key enabler for enhancing public companies and increasing entry to healthcare and schooling.
“Nevertheless, with these alternatives come new coverage obligations. For small, extremely related nations like ours, it’s essential that we get the foundations proper — constructing methods which are protected, moral, and inclusive.”
He stated central to this belief is the launch of Brunei’s Tips on AI Governance and Ethics, developed by the Authority for Data-communications Expertise Trade of Brunei Darussalam (AITI). These pointers set out nationwide rules for accountable AI adoption — which emphasise transparency, human oversight, threat administration, and “alignment with nationwide values”.
How ought to AI be regulated?
Brunei and the EU, whereas sharing frequent issues in AI coverage — like ethics, information privateness, cybersecurity, and digital inclusion — diverge on the extent of presidency oversight wanted.
In 2024, the European Union launched the Synthetic Intelligence Act, the world’s first complete authorized framework particularly designed to manage synthetic intelligence.
Its major purpose is to make sure that AI methods developed and used inside the EU are protected, clear and moral, stated Dr Sander Happaerts, inexperienced and digital counsellor on the EU Delegation to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam.
“It takes a risk-based strategy, and it intervenes the place it’s mandatory, and it doesn’t intervene the place it’s not mandatory.
“We imagine that such regulation is crucial as a result of accountability and guardrails are essential to foster the belief of residents and customers and to allow a broad uptake of synthetic intelligence.”
Whereas the EU has enacted laws, Brunei prefers a extra “versatile and innovation-friendly strategy” to AI, defined Norshahrul Nizam Othman, AITI’s assistant chief government. This place aligns with ASEAN’s regional stance, which favours voluntary pointers over formal laws.
“This doesn’t imply we’re not severe about governing AI,” he added. “We recognise the potential risks of AI, however at this stage, the present strategy to governance [leans towards] steerage slightly than regulation.”
