Public-private partnerships are the key to unlocking sovereign AI in Asia-Pacific

SOVEREIGN AI – which refers to a nation’s effort to produce and secure artificial intelligence (AI) using its own infrastructure, data, algorithms, workforce, and business networks – is gaining momentum in the Asia-Pacific. Latest research by the International Data Corporation (IDC) projects a cumulative economic impact of US$5 trillion from AI across the region by 2030, representing 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product.

As governments bet big on the immense potential of AI to fuel economic growth and societal progress, there is an urgent need for strategic action to ensure its successful implementation. Unlocking this potential, however, demands a collaborative approach, with public-private partnerships (PPPs) providing the crucial framework for combining governmental resources and private-sector innovation.

In the Asia-Pacific, 33 per cent of AI investments are now allocated to sovereign AI initiatives, reflecting a growing recognition that control over data and infrastructure is essential for national security and economic competitiveness.