APEC promotes responsible AI to support regional economic advancement

hartono · Jul 27, 2026

APEC promotes responsible AI to support regional economic advancement

Ilustrasi AI. (ANTARA/XInhua)

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member economies pledged to strengthen the development of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) during a high-level forum in Chengdu, China, on Friday (July 24), aiming to empower regional businesses and communities.

The move aligns with the APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative 2026-2030, which was adopted at the 2025 APEC Summit in South Korea to support cooperation on responsible AI innovation, capacity building, and skills development.

The initiative reflects APEC’s approach to helping its members harness AI while recognizing their varying levels of technological readiness.

“While APEC economies are at different stages of AI development, that diversity is an opportunity for economies to exchange experiences and learn from one another,” Executive Director of the APEC Secretariat Eduardo Pedrosa said in a statement released on Sunday.

He noted that the technology is already improving productivity, accelerating research, and creating new opportunities for businesses across the Asia-Pacific region.

Today, AI applications range from improving healthcare access and traffic management in smaller cities to facilitating cross-border payment systems for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), he stated.

Thus, discussions at the forum focused on expanding access to AI tools, strengthening digital infrastructure, building skills, and helping businesses integrate AI into their day-to-day operations to ensure that APEC members at all stages of development can benefit from the technology.

“The APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative gives economies a practical framework to share expertise, build capabilities, and advance responsible AI together,” Pedrosa added.

The forum, attended by ministers, policymakers, industry representatives, and academics from various APEC member economies, also underscored that wider AI adoption will depend on public trust.

Participants called for greater transparency from AI developers, interoperable governance approaches, and continued cooperation among governments, industries, and researchers to build confidence in the technology.

Director of the Cyberspace Administration of China Zhuang Rongwen emphasized that the development and governance of AI concern the future of all member economies within the region.

“All member economies need to seize opportunities and address challenges together, so that AI becomes a positive force, injecting sustained momentum into building an Asia-Pacific community,” Zhuang said.