Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia – Media OutReach Newswire – December 3, 2025 – Asia School of Business (ASB) today reaffirmed its position as the leading institution for AI-driven leadership in Asia by hosting the AI-driven Leadership Conference. The conference brings together global AI pioneers, CEOs, regional innovators, and policymakers to explore the future of leadership in an AI-driven world. The event was supported by the conference’s strategic partner, TRX City Sdn Bhd, the organization that drives the growth of Malaysia’s international financial center, Tun Razak Exchange (TRX).
[L-R] Dr Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aji, former Governor of Bank of Malaysia. Professor de Kai is the author of Raising AI and a pioneer in AI and language technology. Mr. YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital Malaysia, Mr. Brian A. Wong, former Alibaba executive and entrepreneur. Professor Joe Cherian, CEO, President, Dean and Distinguished Professor of the Asia School of Business.
In his welcome address, Malaysian Digital Minister YB Gobind Singh Deo welcomed the gathering of leaders who recognize the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) in driving the next phase of economic growth for Malaysia and the region.
“Leadership in the new era of intelligence requires trust and transparency to drive growth and return on investment. Beyond managing teams, leaders must understand the ethical implications of AI on work and fairness, and proactively anticipate risks such as algorithmic bias and cybersecurity. “Company leaders must embrace human-centered AI principles and ensure that technology first serves people by enhancing human judgment and humanizing it, rather than dictating or encroaching on it,” he said, adding that leaders must invest as seriously as they invest in people. They invest in technology.
The opening keynote speech was delivered for the first time in Malaysia by Professor De Kai, a globally recognized pioneer in AI and author of the critically acclaimed book Raising AI published by MIT Publishing. He is known for building the web’s first language translation tool and developing language models that later powered Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google Translate, and is one of only 17 founding fellows of the Association for Computational Linguistics. With appointments at HKUST and Berkeley’s International Computer Science Institute, and experience on Google’s AI Ethics Council, De Kai brings deep expertise at the intersection of AI, ethics, and society.
Professor de Cai said: “Artificial intelligence is not a god or a slave. It is your attention-seeking children who seek your approval. We are not raising them, but they are already subconsciously influencing us and will continue to do so even more if we continue to think of them as mechanical tools.”
His session set the stage for a series of sessions and interactive discussions on leadership and cybersecurity, exploring how AI is reshaping industries, workforce structures, and organizational strategies. Other prominent keynote speakers include Brian Wong, a former Alibaba executive, entrepreneur, investor, and author known for his research on globalization strategy and AI-enabled organizational design. Professor Hiroshi Ishiguro is world-renowned for his groundbreaking research in interactive robotics, avatar science, and human-AI interaction.
The conference also featured ASB faculty experts Professor Ong Shien Jin and Professor David Asirvatham, who provided insights on AI-driven decision-making, leadership dynamics, and organizational transformation. Participants considered next-generation AI models, leadership, cybersecurity, responsible adoption, human-centered leadership, and long-term competitiveness.
“As intelligent systems become central to national strategy, corporate competitiveness, and cross-border collaboration, today’s leaders must combine technological literacy with sound judgment and ethical clarity. That’s why ASB is proud to host this conference, to ensure decision-makers in our region are prepared to address the far-reaching impacts that AI will have on our economies and societies. Through AI Leaders, Certified AI, we’ve invested deeply in these capabilities.” Our executive education program for practitioners and the expansion of our AI integration services across the learning pathway have a straightforward goal: to help organizations lead AI-driven transformation with confidence, accountability, and long-term competitiveness. ” said Joe Cherian, CEO, Provost, Dean and Distinguished Professor of Asia School of Business.
TRX City Sdn Bhd, a strategic partner of the conference, highlighted the importance of AI-enabled leadership as a key foundation for a thriving financial ecosystem. Dato’ Sr. Azmar Talib, CEO of TRX City, said: “AI is reshaping global finance and Malaysia needs to stay ahead of the curve. At TRX, we believe that AI-enabled leadership is a fundamental driver of competitiveness. ASB This partnership reflects our commitment to building an international financial center that attracts talent, accelerates innovation and strengthens Malaysia’s position in the region. TRX is proud to support that momentum.”
The conference also included exhibitors such as ThakralOne, iFLYTEK, Biline, Beyond Insights, Symprio, Galaxy Network, and Vetece Holdings. PIKOM, Malaysia’s national technology association, also joined as a supporting partner as part of broader efforts to strengthen Malaysia’s digital economy and innovation landscape.
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