Shaping ASEAN’s AI future: The Openmind AI Brainstorming 2025 Malaysia

On 29 May 2025, the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) Centre of Excellence in Kuala Lumpur welcomed some of the most prominent voices in artificial intelligence for the Openmind AI Brainstorming 2025 Malaysia. The full-day symposium, co-organised by the Openmind Research Institute and UTAR, with support from Universiti Malaya (UM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), AI Singapore, and the ASEAN Academy of Engineering and Technology (AAET), served as a vital forum for discussing the challenges and transformative potential of AI in Southeast Asia.

The Openmind Research Institute, based in Canada and co-founded by Prof Dr Richard Sutton, Prof Dr Randy Goebel, and Dr Joseph Modayil, has built an international reputation for its commitment to open science. The institute conducts foundational AI research with a unique ethos: all findings are freely available, unrestricted by intellectual property claims. This model of transparent, collaborative advancement shaped the spirit of the event.

UTAR, a key local partner in the initiative, was represented by Assoc Prof Ir Ts Dr Tham Mau Luen from the Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science. Dr Tham, a researcher in telecommunications and reinforcement learning, served as both a presenter and moderator, reflecting UTAR’s dedication to academic excellence and international collaboration.

The day commenced with opening remarks from Prof Dr Randy Goebel, followed by a keynote titled Learning from Experience delivered by Prof Dr Richard Sutton, a pioneer in reinforcement learning and the 2024 recipient of the ACM A.M. Turing Award. His keynote offered a foundational lens through which the audience could explore the day’s central themes, namely reinforcement learning, large language models, and the applicability of AI in real-world systems.

Four distinct brainstorming sessions structured the programme, each featuring four expert speakers and a dedicated moderator. The first session, Challenges and Opportunities in the Era of Experience, moderated by Assoc Prof Ts Dr Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin (UTM), featured presentations by Dr Tham (UTAR), Dr Arsalan Sharifnassab (Openmind), Dr Min Lin (SEA AI), and Mr Alex Lewandowski (University of Alberta).

The second session, Large Language Models in Southeast Asia, was moderated by Dr Hon Hock Woon (AmBank Group) and included insights from Dr Leslie Teo (AI Singapore), Ir Prof Dr Chang Yoong Choon (UTAR), Mr Kunat Pipatanakul (SCB 10X), and Dr Wang Xinrun (Singapore Management University). The panel examined how Southeast Asia can position itself within the accelerating landscape of generative AI.

In the afternoon, the third session titled Industry R&D and AI brought an applied focus, moderated by Mr Rezal Rahman (Fluyx). Esteemed industry speakers included Mr Goh Peng Ooi (Silverlake), Assoc Prof Ts Dr Aznul Qalid Md Sabri (UM), Dr Nordin Ramli (MIMOS Berhad), and Ms Vickie Lai (U Mobile), who each addressed the integration of AI in enterprise innovation and development pipelines.

The final session, Reinforcement Learning and AI in Real-World Systems, was guided by Dr Joseph Modayil (Openmind). It drew from a global pool of expertise with contributions from Dr Ying Wen (Shanghai Jiao Tong University), Mr Gregory Szilagyi (University of Toronto), Dr Jun Luo (Huawei), and Dr Kris De Asis (Openmind). Their discussion highlighted the challenges and breakthroughs in applying RL methodologies in practical, deployed systems.

Each session followed a rigorous structure—eight-minute presentations accompanied by Q&A, followed by group discussions and collaborative action planning. The interactive format encouraged multi-stakeholder engagement and the generation of actionable insights, uniquely tailored to the ASEAN context.

Dr Joseph Modayil delivered the closing remarks, reflecting on the day’s achievements and reaffirming Openmind’s commitment to advancing inclusive, ethical AI development. The evening concluded with a formal banquet, celebrating the cross-border collaboration and shared purpose that had defined the day.

Openmind AI Brainstorming 2025 Malaysia not only served as a high-level academic and professional forum, but also embodied the principles of inclusive development. As artificial intelligence continues to transform our world, gatherings such as these are essential for ensuring that progress remains equitable, transparent, and deeply connected to regional and global aspirations.