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Southeast Asia AI Project Seminar, 27-28 November 2024

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​BACKGROUND

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RO-ASP) is implementing a project called “Enhancing the Development of Standards and Frameworks for Critical Technologies in Southeast Asia", financed by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The aim of the project is to support the development of artificial intelligence (AI) standards, policies, frameworks, and initiatives that mainstream gender equality and social inclusion in four countries in the region, namely Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, through a multi-stakeholder approach.

Gender equality and social inclusion are particularly important in AI governance as AI systems have the potential to be biased and discriminatory, to reinforce or exacerbate inequalities, and to uphold and reproduce harmful stereotypes. These risks extend in particular to already vulnerable groups in society. Additional efforts are needed to ensure that everyone – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, age, language, national or social origin, disability, place of living, or any other status – has access to and can benefit from advances in AI technology and are not harmed by it.

As part of the project activities, a 2-day AI seminar will be organized in Bangkok, Thailand on November 27-28. Day 1 will be a Thailand AI Policy Co-Creation Workshop, which will bring together a range of stakeholders in Thailand to co-create AI policy proposals focusing on gender equality and social inclusion, whereas Day 2 will be a regional Southeast Asia AI Seminar that also serves as the concluding seminar for the project.

PROGRAM

Day 1: Thailand AI Policy Co-Creation Workshop

Supported by the AI Center at the Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, the workshop will bring together a range of stakeholders and interested parties in the country to co-create AI policy proposals centered on four themes: 1) AI and gender equality, 2) AI and social inclusion, 3) AI and digital inclusion, and 4) AI and persons with disabilities. It will provide a platform for diverse discussions around AI and its potential societal impacts, and deliberations around the need for inclusive AI policies. The workshop output will be a jointly developed draft text with socially inclusive and gender-sensitive AI policy recommendations for Thailand.

The Thai government has already established a National AI Strategy and Action Plan (2022-2027) as well as AI Ethics Guidelines (2021), and work is under way for additional AI governance instruments. The AI policy recommendations developed as part of this workshop are intended to supplement existing efforts by developing proposals on gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI policy in particular; they are not meant to replace or duplicate any existing government efforts.

Simultaneous interpretation for the workshop will be provided in Thai and English.


Day 2: AI Project Concluding Seminar

The Critical Technologies project was launched in 2021 and is coming to an end in December 2024. This seminar concludes the project and reviews the progress made in the project countries on gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI policies, standards, frameworks, and initiatives. The seminar also offers an opportunity to review the project findings, reports, and achievements, such as the research report “Gender-Sensitive AI Policy in Southeast Asia”, which was developed by ITU and the United Nations University Institute in Macau and published in 2023.

Additionally, the seminar offers an opportunity for stakeholders from the project countries to review recent trends and developments in AI policy and standards in the region and provides a platform to discuss future collaboration and networking on AI in the region. ITU’s role in continuing to support gender-sensitive and socially inclusive AI development and deployment in Asia and the Pacific will be highlighted.

The seminar will be carried out in hybrid format, with an option for stakeholders to join the event online. ​

DATE & PLACE

The event will be held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 27-28 November 2024. 

Venue:
Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square
392/44 Siam Square Soi 6, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand​

PROVISIONAL AGENDA

​Day 1: Thailand AI Policy Co-Creation Workshop

​Time​
Agenda​
​08.30-09.00
Registration​
09.00-09.25
Opening remarks

Speakers: 
  • Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
  • Assoc. Prof. Mongkol Ekpanyapong, Director of AI Centre, Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
09.25-09.40Workshop purpose and working methods
Speakers: 
  • Mr. Alex Högback, Project Manager, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
  • Mr. Rungrot Tatiyawongwiwat (Bond), Researcher at AI Centre, AIT​
09.40-10.30Setting the stage: an overview of AI policy development in Thailand
Speaker:
Dr. Sawit Kasuriya, Deputy Executive Director, National Electronics and Computer Technology Center (NECTEC)
10.30-10.45Break
10.45-11.15
Lecture on Empowering Gender Equality in AI Policy
Speaker:
Prof. Dr. Soraj Hongladarom, President, The Philosophy and Religion Society of Thailand (PARST)
​11.15-12.00
​Workshop on Empowering Gender Equality in AI Policy
Facilitator:
Dr. Chanettee Tinnam (Ann), Lecturer at Faculty of Communication Arts, Chulalongkorn University
12.00-13.00Lunch
13.00-14.15Seminar on Advancing Social Inclusion and Equity in AI Policy and Development
Facilitator:
Asst. Prof. Wanchanok Sunthorn (Amm)

Speakers:
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kanokrat Lertchoosakul, Expert in Social Inclusion, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University
  • Mr. Teerachart Kortrakul, Ad hoc Committee on Considering and Studying the Control and Promoting the Usage of Artificial Intelligence to Prepare for Change in the Future
  • Dr. Monsak Socharoentum, Artificial intelligence expert, Human Resource Development and Higher Education Institution Development Fund Management Unit Research and Innovation Development (NRCT)
14.15-15.30Seminar on AI Policy and Digital Inclusion: Ensuring Digital Access for All
Facilitator:
Dr. Chanettee Tinnam (Ann)

Speakers:
  • Dr. Chinawut Chinaprayoon, Executive Vice President (Digital Ecosystem Promotion Unit)
  • Dr. Kobkrit Viriyayudhakorn, President of the Artificial Intelligence Entrepreneurs Association of Thailand (AIEAT)
  • Asst. Prof. Dr. Peerapat Chokesuwattanaskul, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Chulalongkorn University​
15.30-15.45Break
15.45-16.30Seminar on Fostering AI Accessibility: AI Policy and Persons with Disabilities and Beyond
Facilitator:
Dr. Chanettee Tinnam (Ann)

Speakers:
  • Ms Nipa Srichang, Group Leader at Fall Injury Prevention Group
  • Ms. Nalatporn Krairiksh, Editor at Thisable.me
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adam Neelapaijit, Acting Director of Master of Arts Program in. Quality of Life Development for Persons with Disabilities​
16.30-17.00Workshop wrap-up and closing remarks
Speakers: ITU and AIT

​
​Day 2: AI Project Concluding Seminar

me​
Agenda​
​08:30-09:00
​Registration
09.00-09.15
Opening Remarks

Speakers: 
  • Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
  • Mr. Thomas Fuller, First Secretary Trade and Investment, the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)​
09.15-09.30
Project Review 2021-2024
(Activities carried out since project start and results achieved)
Speaker: Alex Högback, Project Manager, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
09:30-10:15
Project Country Updates
(AI policy/standard/governance comparison between 2021 and 2024)

Speakers:
  • Indonesia: Ms. Ulfathul Arzia, Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs
  • Malaysia: Mr. Mohd Firdaus Mohamed Khairi, Senior Assistant Secretary, Incubator Division, Ministry of Digital
  • The Philippines: Ms. Evamay Dela Rosa, Regional Director, Department of Information and Communication Technology​
10:15-10:30Break
10:30-11:00
Keynote Presentation: “Key components of a socially inclusive and gender sensitive AI policy in Southeast Asia”
Speaker:
Professor Juliana Sutanto, Department of Human Centred Computing, Monash University, Australia
​11:00-12:30
​Recent AI Policy, Development, and Gender Perspectives
Speakers:
  • Dr. Peter Brimble, Vice-President & Chair of the Board, AI Asia Pacific Institute
  • Mr. Byeongjo Kong, Digital Technology Specialist, Asian Development Bank (virtually)
  • Dr. Serge Stinckwich, Head of Research, United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau)
12:30-13:30Lunch
13:30-14:30UNESCO RAM Assessments
(Presentation of the four country reports established by the UNESCO AI Readiness Assessment Methodology supported by ITU)
Speakers:
  • Ms. Undral Ganbaatar, Unit Head, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Jakarta
  • Mr. Phinith Chanthalangsy, Regional Advisor, Social and Human Sciences, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok​
​14:30-15:00
​Building Networks for Women in AI
(Presentation by Women in AI (WAI) Malaysia and Thailand)
Speakers:
  • Professor Sharifah Sakinah Syed Ahmad, Department of Intelligent Computing & Analytics, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) and Women in AI Malaysia
  • Ms. Sareeya Ben-arlee, Team Leader, Digital Economy Promotion Agency and Women in AI Thailand​
15:00-15:15
Break
15:15-15:45Thailand Workshop Review and Policy Recommendations
(Review of Thailand AI Policy Co-Creation Workshop and findings from the report “Gender-Sensitive AI Policy in Southeast Asia”)
Speakers:
  • Asst. Prof. Wanchanok Sunthorn (Amm), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)
  • Mr. Rungrot Tatiyawongwiwat (Bond), Researcher at AI Centre, AIT
  • Assoc. Prof. Joyee S. Chatterjee, Gender and Development Studies, AIT
15:45-16:30
Future Collaboration
(Discussion about opportunities for collaboration on AI policies and standards for 2025 and beyond)
Moderator:
Ms. Atsuko Okuda, Regional Director, ITU Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
16:30-17:00
Closing remarks
Speakers: ITU

EVENT INFORMATION

Time: 9.00 am – 5.00pm​
Date: 27-28 November 2024
Venue: Novotel Bangkok on Siam Square, 392/44 Siam Square Soi 6, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand​​​​

 

FOCAL POINT

​Alex Högback, Project Manager ​
alex.hogback[at]itu.int

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