This article was first published in Asia Business Outlook Magazine.

In today’s rapidly evolving technology landscape, artificial intelligence (AI) is an undeniably transformative force in Southeast Asia (SEA). According to Kearney, AI is expected to contribute US$1 trillion to the SEA economy by 2030 as it elevates productivity, reinvent business models and drives innovation. Recognizing the immense economic benefits it can bring, the Singapore government has already set in motion its National AI Strategy as the republic works towards becoming a global leader in AI solutions by 2030.

However, as AI rapidly proliferates and advances, there are rising concerns around its ethical and societal implications. According to the Avanade Trendlines Report, only 36% of business leaders are confident that their organizations have sufficient checks and balances to mitigate potential risks and harms of AI.

Evidently, careful consideration and proactive measures are needed to ensure AI’s responsible development and deployment. This has led to an increasing emphasis on responsible AI adoption involving safeguards such as ethical considerations. It has also led to calls for a more conducive ecosystem that promulgates the development of human-centered AI.

Why diversity and inclusion matters in the AI era
Diversity and inclusion are not just matters of social responsibility – they are essential to ensure effective and equitable development and use of AI.

As AI becomes increasingly integrated within our daily lives and business functions, diversity and inclusion hold great importance as it ensures the system makes accurate and unbiased judgments when tasked with informing critical decisions. However, as AI solutions are trained on data, they can lead to bias and discriminatory outcomes when the data is not diverse and representative of the population. This can eventually erode trust in AI and adversely affect the organization’s reputation and credibility.

Besides data, it is equally pivotal for AI teams to comprise of individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives. This is not just a moral imperative, but a strategic one. A diverse, inclusive workforce can drive innovation, improve performance, and be better equipped to identify and mitigate potential bias. This can lead to enhanced AI solutions that can meet the needs of all users.

Responsible AI starts with a diverse, inclusive and AI-first culture
Responsible adoption of AI within an organization begins with culture. Businesses must first ensure that there is a culture that welcomes and enables employees and talents from all walks of life to challenge decisions and to take ownership of the ethical consequences of AI technologies.

Employees would also need to be empowered, treated and valued fairly in their roles to maximize their potential at work. This is critical as it forms the base of every organization and sets the tone for AI development teams to bring different perspectives to the discussion table as they consider ethical implications and societal impact at every stage of AI system creation.

According to the World Economic Forum, most companies globally will prioritize women (79%), youths under 25 (68%) and individuals with disabilities (51%) as part of their workforce programs. By prioritizing diversity and inclusion, businesses will start to attract top talents from different backgrounds, thereby creating a circular hiring environment. In the long run, businesses with a well-balanced team are better equipped and positioned to address and navigate complex issues that come with AI adoption, while ensuring success and social responsibility.

Furthermore, businesses need to be ever-vigilant of AI misuse and bias due to its ever-evolving nature. In this challenging context, there needs to be a strong framework of policies and guidelines put in place to ensure transparency, fairness, and trust so businesses can responsibly harness the benefits of AI. This will be one of the cornerstones for building an AI-first culture within the organizations.

Business and IT leaders also need to recognize how the rise of AI will force a rethink of the relationship and engagement between people and technology, and that an AI-first culture is inherently people-first. Successful leaders will be the ones who deeply understand how to leverage AI to empower human ingenuity, elevate employees’ performance, and strengthen their sense of workplace contribution and value.

The pivotal roles of diversity, inclusion and an AI-first culture in responsible AI adoption cannot be overstated as our society continues to embrace technology. Organizations that prioritize these strategies in their AI initiatives will not only effectively harness the transformative power of AI, but also build trust and goodwill within their communities. This will pave the way towards a future where AI benefits all and position organizations for success and growth in the demographically diverse and culture-rich Southeast Asia region.