Southeast Asia is facing a growing challenge as artificial intelligence reshapes economies, labor markets, and industrial structures across the region. The central issue is not only technological adoption, but also control—who owns AI systems, who operates them, and who ultimately benefits from the value they generate. As governments and businesses accelerate AI integration, concerns are rising about widening inequality and uneven access to the economic gains of automation. The debate mirrors earlier industrial revolutions, where technological progress often concentrated wealth and decision-making power in the hands of a few. Today, AI introduces similar tensions but at a faster and more complex scale, affecting sectors such as manufacturing, services, and digital platforms. Countries in the region are now balancing the need to attract investment and innovation while ensuring that local workers and communities are not left behind. The “AI dilemma” highlights a broader policy question: how to ensure that technological transformation leads to inclusive growth rather than reinforcing existing economic divides.
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