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Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim Alhamdullilahi Rabbil `Alameen Wasaalatu Wassalaamu `Ala Asyrafil Ambiae Walmursaleen, Saidina Muhammadin Wa'alaa Aalihiee Wasahbihee Ajama'een 

Yang Mulia, 

Haji Jailani bin Haji Buntar, 

Chief Executive, AITI; 

Permanent Secretaries; 

Deputy Permanent Secretaries; 

Senior Government Officials; 

Members of the Working Group on AI Governance and Ethics 

Representatives from the ICT industry; 

Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen; 

Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and a very good morning. 

1. It is my privilege to welcome all of you today to the second AI Governance Symposium. Your presence this morning reflects the importance of building a trusted and inclusive digital ecosystem for Brunei Darussalam. 

2. I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to AITI for organising this Symposium. Since the inaugural Symposium in 2024, the AI Governance Symposium continues to be the platform that brings together regional and local thought leaders, industry experts, entrepreneurs, researchers and civil society to cultivate a deeper understanding of the developments of AI and its governance. 

3. The publication of the Guide on AI Governance and Ethics for Brunei Darussalam in April this year, has reaffirmed our commitment to a shared vision towards the ethical development and deployment of AI, governed by a set of guiding principles. This vision is also to further encourage models of innovation to be grounded in trust and rooted in equity and inclusivity that align with Bruneian values. 

4. Initiatives such the Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, as well as the AI Governance Symposium today, provide invaluable input to the Brunei Darussalam's National AI Strategy, which is currently being developed by the Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications. This Strategy will serve as our nation's comprehensive roadmap for artificial intelligence, and will be further complemented by the “National Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Framework” which is also in its development phase. 

5. Both these strategies are designed to boost our capacity for innovation, drive AI adoption across sectors and ensure that our AI development is in sync with our national goals and international standards. 

Ladies and Gentlemen; 

6. The widespread adoption of AI has been a direct result of rapid technological innovation. The advent of Generative AI brought the use of Large Language Models to our devices. There is also progression now towards Agentic AI, which consists of autonomous agents that can act and learn from their surroundings without human intervention. 

7. Generative AI has fundamentally changed how we create and communicate. Users are now able to instantly generate creative content or summarise vast amounts of data. This capability provides a powerful tool for individuals and businesses alike, enabling them to automate routine tasks, thereby significantly enhancing productivity and innovation. 

8. The true value of technological adoption lies in a clear business case and the demonstrable social and economic benefits it provides. This principle is especially critical as we leverage on the power and benefits of AI, which can be a key enabler for Brunei Darussalam’s digital transformation. 

9. The Ministry of Transport and Infocommunications, through the Digital Brunei Council (DBC), is preparing the Digital Brunei Transformation Plan, which will supersede the Digital Economy Masterplan previously published in 2020. The Digital Brunei Transformation Plan will guide the implementation of digital government projects and initiatives that leverage on emerging technologies and AI to realise our vision of a Smart Nation.

Ladies and Gentlemen; 

10. While these technological advancements present immense opportunities, the power of these Generative AI models can also pose other risks if they are developed, deployed and used without accountability and ethical standards. Their ability to process vast amounts of data raises concerns as the training of such models may rely on internet data. Depending on the integrity of such data, this can lead to undesirable outputs, such as biasness, inaccuracy of information or disinformation. 

11. Common uses of AI chatbots in the workplace can also inevitably bring a new challenge where there is a risk of oversharing, or cases where personal or confidential information are uploaded. This raises a fundamental question of accountability. While AI providers and model developers have a responsibility to build secure systems with proper safeguards, users are equally accountable for upholding ethical standards and preventing the sharing of sensitive data. 

12. It is against this scene, that I would like to highlight a recent development in Brunei Darussalam. The Personal Data Protection Order 2025 (PDPO 2025), which will fully come into force on 1st January 2026, is a key legislation that serves as a guardrail to ensure accountability in processing and handling of personal data in the private sector. 

13. The evolving AI landscape that we are observing today, inevitably requires a more agile approach in data protection. The need for high quality data to power AI’s continuous evolution, requires a careful balance of innovation and ethical considerations in the sourcing of more structured and reliable data. Hence, personal data protection legislation, in general, aligns and supports this development. How, we may wonder? 

14. Personal data protection legislation, in general, greatly nurtures a culture of accountability among organisations that handle personal data. The PDPO 2025 is no exception. It contains provisions that guide organisations in their obligations towards proper personal data management, governance including measures to best protect personal data under their responsibilities. Hence, with personal data protection legislation in place, the challenges and risk of unauthorised data usage, can be addressed at the outset through the enforcement of proper data management and governance. 

15. It is therefore crucial that our approach towards the use of AI is underpinned by a commitment to ethical practices that address the risks of AI misuse and other related issues. Hence, effective AI implementation calls for a shared responsibility among all stakeholders. This collaborative approach is essential for harnessing the benefits of this technology while ensuring its responsible development and use. 

Ladies and Gentlemen; 

16. Jurisdictions worldwide have designed and implemented new AI governance and ethics frameworks, policies and laws. Notably, the European Union’s AI Act entered into force in August 2024, whereby major provisions include the ban of AI systems that pose “unacceptable risk” and require organisations to ensure their employees have sufficient AI literacy. Providers of GeneralPurpose AI (GPAI) models are also required to create and maintain comprehensive technical documentation, provide a summary of training data and label AI-generated content. AI models which can cause significant harm have been given a more stringent set of requirements. 

17. Other guidelines have provided a more principles-based approach, providing best practices organisations can follow. Examples include UNESCO’s “Recommendation on the Ethics of AI" and ASEAN’s "Expanded Guide on AI Governance and Ethics – Generative AI". I have been made to understand that these examples have been the main reference point for regional best practices in the development of the Gudie for AI Governance and Wthics for Brunei Darussalam. 

18. At this point, I would like to express my gratitude to the distinguished speakers from Google, Microsoft, UNESCO, IMDA of Singapore, EVYD and Progresif, who are all here to share their expertise and valuable insights on the developments of Generative AI and its governance. 

Ladies and Gentlemen; 

19. To progress, a shared responsibility amongst government, private sector, academia, and civil society is key to harnessing the benefits of this technology while ensuring its responsible development and use. 

20. Hence, I am delighted to learn that the AI Governance and Ethics Working Group Members are in attendance today. I was informed the Working Group will also be convening again to discuss on the applicability of the Guide on Governance and Ethics for Brunei Darussalam for these new developments in Generative AI. 

21. Together with the enactment of the Personal Data Protection Order in January 2025, these instruments will strengthen the foundation for a safe and trusted digital ecosystem in Brunei Darussalam. 

Ladies and Gentlemen; 

22. To conclude, I express my sincere appreciation to AITI for organising this event, the speakers and panellists for their valuable contributions, and the attendees for their participation. 

23. Let this second AI Governance Symposium continue to be the spark that ignites a passion for responsible AI development in our nation. Let us all utilise this platform to foster open discussions, exchange knowledge and collaboration. I sincerely hope that the topics presented today will contribute meaningfully to a shared vision for shaping the responsible use of AI in Brunei Darussalam.

Thank you. 

Wabillahi Taufik Walhidayah, Wassalamu Alaikum Warrahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.