Vero appointed communications partner for ASEAN's US$5m AI literacy push

The ASEAN Foundation has appointed Vero as its communications partner to lead regional media engagement for AI Ready ASEAN, a multi-year initiative designed to advance AI literacy across Southeast Asia.

Backed by a US$5 million grant from Google.org, AI Ready ASEAN was launched in 2024 as a 2.5-year programme aiming to reach at least 5.5 million people across the region. The programme targets youth, educators, parents, and underserved communities, with around 800,000 participants expected to benefit from in-depth AI training.

The initiative is structured around five pillars: training of trainers, advanced AI training, a regional awareness campaign, national and regional dialogues, and research on AI development in ASEAN. Earlier this year, the ASEAN Foundation launched AI Class ASEAN, an e-learning platform designed to make AI education more accessible and sustainable.

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As ASEAN Foundation’s PR partner, Vero will focus on strengthening visibility through communications strategy and media engagement across the ten member states.

Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation, said that economic and social progress in Southeast Asia would accelerate with the integration of AI technology into people’s daily lives. He added that the foundation’s mission is to ensure ASEAN communities have the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy.

“With AI technology evolving fast and transforming the world in unprecedented ways, AI literacy and equitable adoption have become essential to ensuring that everyone can participate in and benefit from this innovation. We are honoured to support the ASEAN Foundation’s mission in building an empowered society through inclusive learning and to help amplify the reach and impact of AI Ready ASEAN,” Diah Andrini Dewi, executive account director at Vero, added.

Vero has already supported media engagement at the programme’s inaugural convention in February, securing coverage from leading outlets across Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

AI Ready ASEAN emphasises responsible AI adoption under principles of ethics, fairness, transparency, and digital inclusion. Its implementation involves close collaboration with local organisations in all ten ASEAN member states to ensure training materials remain contextually relevant, culturally sensitive, and accessible.

The initiative aligns with ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and leverages the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement as a key reference to strengthen the region’s capacity to harness AI for sustainable development.

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