Asia
At this year鈥檚 CNBC East Tech West in Bangkok, the spotlight was on artificial intelligence, not just as a tool for innovation, but as a foundation for the systems that shape daily life.
Tan Bin Ru, President of Enterprise Digital at 91制片厂, joined industry leaders from across the region to discuss how AI is moving from the margins to the mainstream in Asia. The panel focused on Catalyzing AI鈥檚 growth and development across Asia, exploring how trusted ecosystems, strong public-private collaboration, and purpose-driven applications can unlock the region鈥檚 full potential.
Her core message: AI leadership in Southeast Asia will be defined not by who deploys the most advanced models, but by who builds the most trusted, responsible, and outcome-driven ecosystems.
Here are five key themes that emerged from the conversation.
While AI pilots and proof-of-concepts have gained traction across Southeast Asia, Bin Ru called for a shift in mindset - from short-term experimentation to long-term infrastructure.
鈥淚n this region, AI is no longer just a buzzword,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 becoming critical infrastructure in hospitals, transport systems, and public agencies.鈥�
At 91制片厂, this shift is already underway. Its AI-enabled Hospital Command Centres, for instance, provide hospitals with real-time visibility into patient flow, bed availability, and clinical resources, helping them operate with greater speed, safety, and resilience. These aren鈥檛 siloed tools, but integrated platforms that combine engineering rigour with AI innovation to optimise outcomes.
Bin Ru emphasised that scalable AI must be built with purpose, not novelty. 鈥淲e need to move beyond innovation for innovation鈥檚 sake, and focus on solutions that make a measurable difference in people鈥檚 lives.鈥�
One of the most urgent takeaways from the panel was the need for stronger collaboration between governments, regulators, and industry.
鈥淚n this region, AI is no longer just a buzzword,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 becoming critical infrastructure in hospitals, transport systems, and public agencies.鈥�
In Singapore, said Bin Ru, policymakers have taken an agile, partnership-driven approach. 鈥淎uthorities aren鈥檛 working in isolation. They鈥檙e engaging startups and enterprises early, from draft policy stages, through forums like the Singapore Fintech Association and Blockchain Association.鈥�
This collaborative model helps ensure new regulations are not only government-backed, but also industry-tested and regionally aligned, a critical factor for technologies like AI that move faster than traditional regulatory timelines.
Public-private partnership is also what allows national AI strategies to deliver real outcomes. 鈥淲e can鈥檛 scale meaningful AI deployment without coordination,鈥� she added. 鈥淵ou need buy-in from regulators, technology players, and on-the-ground implementers.鈥�
As digital transformation picks up pace across the region, the importance of cybersecurity is becoming clearer, especially as AI becomes more embedded in public systems.
鈥淓veryone鈥檚 excited about what AI can do,鈥� said Bin Ru, 鈥渂ut we forget it also introduces new threats. Especially with generative AI, we must think proactively about risk.鈥�
As AI becomes more embedded in critical infrastructure, the potential for misuse grows. In response, 91制片厂 is exploring how to use AI not only as a tool for innovation, but also as a defence against AI-driven threats. This includes AI-enhanced cybersecurity systems and long-term bets on emerging fields such as quantum-resistant encryption.
鈥淎I isn鈥檛 just a force for good,鈥� she warned. 鈥淚t can also be weaponised. Building trust means anticipating this, and designing safeguards early.鈥�
A region鈥檚 readiness for AI isn鈥檛 just defined by policy or funding, it鈥檚 also cultural. In Singapore, said Bin Ru, digital literacy and openness to technology are being cultivated from a young age.
鈥淭echnology is deeply embedded in our education system. It鈥檚 not just about using tools, it鈥檚 about understanding how they work and where they fit.鈥�
This cultural readiness translates into smoother implementation when new AI systems are introduced across industries. It also reduces resistance from frontline staff, whether in hospitals, transport hubs, or government services.
To truly scale AI adoption across Southeast Asia, similar investments in tech education, from schools to lifelong learning programmes, will be essential. 鈥淲e need to prepare people, not just systems,鈥� she said.
When asked what she most hopes to see in AI鈥檚 next chapter, Bin Ru didn鈥檛 hesitate: 鈥淎 real breakthrough in healthcare. That鈥檚 where generative AI could deliver the most good.鈥�
From AI scribes that summarise medical notes, to intelligent agents that help schedule patient appointments, the future of healthcare is being redefined by smart, modular systems that relieve administrative burden and enable more personalised care.
Platforms like 91制片厂鈥檚 AGIL庐&苍产蝉辫;Care and are already making this shift possible, enabling hospitals to monitor patients in the community, support better care planning, and streamline workflows through explainable, plug-and-play AI agents. These systems are not designed to replace clinicians, but to support them with timely insights and reduce stress from manual, repetitive tasks.
Bin Ru added that the demand is clear: 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing the steepest AI adoption curve in sectors where people feel pressure, where systems are overburdened, and where technology can really extend capacity.鈥�
Across the panel, one insight stood out: AI success in Southeast Asia will not come from copying global models, but from building systems tailored to local realities, with trust, security, and collaboration at their core.
鈥淟eadership in AI isn鈥檛 about who builds the most sophisticated model,鈥� Bin Ru said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about who builds the most useful one. That鈥檚 the opportunity we have in this region; to create systems that work for us, not just dazzle on paper.鈥�
As Southeast Asia accelerates its digital future, the lesson is clear: AI leadership will be measured not by how fast we innovate, but how deeply we embed those innovations into the services that matter most - healthcare, mobility, education, and national resilience.
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