The following is the foreward to BGA’s report on the state of AI policy in the Indo-Pacific. To access the full report, please contact the authors, BGA Enterprise Technology Senior Director William Heidlage at wheidlage@bowergroupasia.com and BGA Platform Technology Senior Director Apoorva Kolluru at akolluru@bowergroupasia.com.

Foreword

As artificial intelligence (AI) use cases transform from concepts to market applications, businesses in the Indo-Pacific are positioning themselves to reap the efficiency gains from this transformational technology. In doing so, they must navigate the complex and often uncertain regulatory environment for AI in these markets. Regulatory vigilance, proactive government engagement and strategic risk mapping are practices that can enable businesses to stay ahead of the curve and anticipate regulatory frictions on the horizon.

This report aims to enable businesses to do just that by providing analysis on regional regulatory trends in AI and a sectoral outlook on AI regulations across 16 markets in the Indo-Pacific. It combines BowerGroupAsia’s strong understanding of technology trends with our in-depth knowledge of the markets where we operate to provide valuable and actionable insights.

Each chapter in this report can be read as a standalone memo and is meant to provide answers to specific questions:

Chapter 1 looks at the global trendlines behind different countries’ AI policies. It identifies the key concerns of governments and provides analysis on the regulatory models of the United States, the European Union, China and regional organizations.

Chapter 2 helps to make sense of the complex regional regulatory landscape by answering a critical question: what is happening in the Indo-Pacific? It provides a snapshot of the AI regulations in 16 Indo-Pacific markets, providing regulatory insights that BGA analysts have gained from continued on-ground engagement with stakeholders.

Chapter 3 deploys this knowledge to analyze, at a sector-wide level, the regulatory landscape businesses can expect in the Indo-Pacific. The analysis incorporates various use cases and identifies where growth opportunities exist and where more work remains to be done.

Chapter 4 synthesizes the findings and research into four takeaways that identify points of convergence and divergence in the AI policies across the Indo-Pacific. It offers an at-a-glance view of the major trends that will shape and cause tensions in thinking about AI in this part of the world.

As AI laws continue to evolve, companies that prioritize strategic engagement will be better positioned to manage risks, capitalize on emerging opportunities and shape the future of AI deployment in this region. We hope this report sets the ball rolling on that conversation and sparks discussions on how the BGA Technology Team can help you meet your business objectives.

Apoorva, Will and Harris

BGA Technology Team

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Senior Director

Will helps external stakeholders understand how BGA can address their toughest business and policy challenges in the Indo-Pacific. He has extensive experience as a commercial advisor and is an expert on China’s domestic politics, global technology policy and corporate communications.  In his spare time, Will serves as the Global Executive Director of Young China Watchers, a nonprofit organization for young professionals with over 6,000 members in 10 chapters worldwide, including the chapter he founded in Washington, D.C.  Before his current position at BGA, Will was the director of strategic partnerships at Protocol, a startup technology media company and subsidiary of ... Read More