Some may love it, some might hate it, and some are terrified, but artificial intelligence (AI) is here to stay. With the prevalence of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Google Bard, and AI art tools like Midjourney and DreamUp, this technology is just starting. However, it also threatens to take jobs from writers and artists. It can even replace call center agents outsourced to Asian countries like India and the Philippines.
While it might be threatening many individuals, AI has become an option for jobs that need streamlining, like in government operations. In the United States, they use chatbots to answer public service inquiries. They also used AI for predictive analysis to help prevent crimes and monitor veterans’ mental health. To adapt to AI technologies’ quick advancements, procurement processes must also be updated to keep pace with these early-stage AI products.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has created a guide to help country members review AI systems and technologies and check if they are responsibly made, developed, and deployed since AI has broad potential.
These guidelines also offer suggestions for regional and national programs that governments in the Asean should consider. It includes human involvement in AI systems, managing operations, education of AI skill workers, investing in AI start-ups, and AI research and development, among others.
So while AI might take on some jobs, it can also create more, as long as the government cooperates with different sectors to nurture AI workers and help them adapt to this technology.
ASEAN countries have also started leveraging AI technologies by automating and optimizing complex activities using large data sets. Many of these technologies are already used to automate and optimize processes that would call for less productive use of resources and labor to finish. Additionally, they are using AI in a variety of fields much beyond the most popular industrial ones.
In Thailand, Google’s AI software examines eye scans to identify diabetic eye illnesses precisely. Accenture’s Drishti technology in India offers visually impaired people text narration and contextual information via cell phones. MIMOS and Huawei have created AI surveillance systems in Malaysia to improve urban security.
VioEdu, an e-learning platform from FPT in Vietnam, analyzes students’ learning styles to provide individualized instruction. AI is being used in Indonesia by Kata.ai and Tokopedia to streamline e-commerce and automate customer service.
According to research, 99% of Asia-Pacific companies use AI. Thirty-four percent said that AI is utilized for operating expenses. Meanwhile, 29% of respondents use it to find new sources of demand. Lastly, 31% emphasized resource planning to minimize supply chain interruptions.
Private sectors like tech corporations are essential because they are the ones who know the ins and outs of AI technology. They frequently have greater flexibility and make larger research investments. This helps them develop new solutions more quickly than government organizations. But there are difficulties, like making sure there is fair competition, getting data, and defending citizens’ rights.
Governments should employ cutting-edge, adaptable procurement techniques to buy AI. These include using Other Transaction Authority (OTA) for flexible contracts on prototype projects. It also involves working with private companies through cooperative agreements and sharing investments through Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO).
Other techniques include encouraging innovation with challenge-based procurement and breaking projects down into smaller, manageable parts with incremental development. Governments should also establish cross-functional teams to guarantee a coordinated strategy that addresses security, privacy, legality, and technology issues.