The ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org, officially launched AI Class ASEAN during the 2nd Regional Policy Convening of AI Ready ASEAN, held on 12–13 August in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The new e-learning platform marks one of the key milestones of AI Ready ASEAN, a 2.5-year regional programme made possible through a USD 5 million grant from Google.org. The initiative aims to equip young people, educators, and parents with essential skills to promote the inclusive and responsible adoption of Artificial Intelligence across ASEAN. With an ambitious target of upskilling over 5.5 million learners, the platform represents a major leap forward in advancing AI literacy in Southeast Asia.
In Malaysia, the programme is organised by Local Implementing Partners (LIPs), including Universiti Teknologi Petronas – ASEAN Student Association (UTP-ASEAN Student Association) and Kolej Tingkatan Enam Tun Fatimah (KTETF). These partners have collaborated with schools and universities to introduce foundational AI concepts and support the development of digital literacy among students, educators, and parents.
As AI reshapes economies and education systems globally, the demand for safe, inclusive, and responsible deployment comes timely and imperative. Thus, involved stakeholders must collaborate to legislate new policies and introduce innovative learning methods that will unlock benefits and help make the ASEAN Community AI-ready.
An example of this is the AI Class ASEAN, which is poised to turn this vision into a reality. The platform provides free training through 70 localised modules to meet the evolving needs of the region. Driven by AI-powered chatbot, discussion forums, and real-time translation support that facilitates collaborative, multilingual learning, the AI Class ASEAN is a multifaceted regional initiative. By providing accessible and meaningful information on AI, the platform prepares individuals for an AI-powered future.
“At the ASEAN Foundation, we believe that empowering our communities with the right knowledge and skills is the key to a future-proof ASEAN. AI Class ASEAN delivers opportunity, inclusion, and shared progress, transforming ASEAN into a more resilient, better-informed, and more connected region,” stated Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of ASEAN Foundation.
Under the theme “Bridging AI Literacy and AI Safety: Building Responsible AI in ASEAN”, the two-day convening brought together policymakers, educators, youth leaders, civil society organisations, and private sector experts to discuss the opportunities and challenges presented by the rise of AI in the region. The programme featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, a talk show, networking sessions, and the official launch of a flagship digital learning initiative: AI Class ASEAN.
The launch was symbolically marked through a ceremonial press of the launch button by key stakeholders: H.E. Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital of Malaysia; H.E. Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN; H.E. Ambassador Sitsangkhom Sisaketh, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the ASEAN Foundation and Permanent Representative of the Lao PDR to ASEAN; Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation; and Ms. Sapna Chadha, Vice President for Southeast Asia and South Asia Frontier, Google Asia Pacific.
The ceremony was witnessed by representatives from the ASEAN Working Group on AI, ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education, ASEAN Secretariat, and AI Ready ASEAN’s local implementing partners.
Following its official launch at the 2nd Regional Policy Convening, AI Class ASEAN was unveiled as the flagship initiative at the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025, in the presence of The Honourable Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. The moment underscored the significance of the e-learning platform, and the broader AI Ready ASEAN programme, in equipping Malaysia’s current and future generations with the skills needed to shape an inclusive, innovation-driven future for ASEAN.
Since its launch, AI Ready ASEAN has achieved considerable progress in promoting basic AI literacy. Through its Hour of Code (HoC) campaigns, over 400,000 beneficiaries across 10 ASEAN countries have benefited from foundational AI concepts. Regional LIPs have played a key role in these efforts by building strong local networks across universities, schools, government agencies, and community organisations.
“We see AI not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for inclusive progress when used responsibly. At Google.org, we’re supporting programmes like AI Ready ASEAN to ensure that foundational AI education reaches those who have the most to gain from it. By localising access and aligning with community needs, we’re helping to build a generation that can engage with AI critically, creatively, and confidently,” said Marija Ralic, Head of Google.org Asia Pacific.
Leading Malaysia’s local implementation efforts, UTP-ASEAN Student Association builds on its grassroots legacy of digital empowerment, previously advocating for SDG 4: Quality Education through STEM workshops, university outreach, and digital inclusion efforts in the rural and indigenous communities. In collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (Premier Digital Tech Institutions, PDTI), and MARA Secondary Education Division, the association now aims to equip at least 250,000 Malaysians with foundational AI knowledge, promote responsible AI use, and help bridge the digital divide.
Through national initiatives such as the HoC campaign, AI training, and the AI Ready ASEAN Camp, it continues to nurture a future-ready generation of ethical and inclusive AI leaders, aiming to reach 10,640 beneficiaries by the end of August.
“We envision the AI Ready ASEAN programme as a catalyst for AI literacy in Malaysia, empowering youth, educators, and local communities to understand and leverage artificial intelligence in meaningful and ethical ways. In the long term, we hope this initiative will support Malaysia’s national digital transformation agenda, particularly by aligning with the country’s Digital Education Policy. By equipping individuals with foundational and advanced AI knowledge, we aim to inspire more students to pursue careers, research, and innovation in AI and other emerging technologies, thus contributing to the growth of a future-ready digital workforce,” stated Wong Soon Ping, Project Supervisor (AI Ready ASEAN) of UTP-ASEAN Student Association.
Meanwhile, KTETF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation, universities, and NGOs, has trained and certified over 100 educators to integrate AI into their respective co-curricular activities, reaching 46,583 participants across 200 schools. Through YouTube Live sessions, AI competitions and incentives, it promotes ethical and practical applications of AI. Looking ahead, KTETF plans to embed the programme in Learning Management Systems to ensure long-term sustainability.
AI Ready ASEAN exemplifies how strategic partnerships can drive meaningful change. Through cross-sector collaboration and grassroots engagement, ASEAN is building a future where digital literacy and AI fluency are not privileges, but shared opportunities to equip the community.
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