This article first appeared in Digital Edge, The Edge Malaysia Weekly on March 24, 2025 - March 30, 2025
No longer just a tool for automation, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a force of creation. But the real question isn’t what AI can do — it is how we choose to use it.
At its core, AI is a system that synthesises new content, ideas and designs by learning from vast datasets. It can draft reports, generate visuals, compose music and even assist in scientific discovery. Yet, as with any powerful tool, its impact depends on intent. Will it replace human ingenuity or will it amplify it?
By 2030, AI could add US$1 trillion (RM4.4 trillion) to Southeast Asia’s gross domestic product, according to global management consulting firm Kearney. Governments and businesses are taking note, investing in AI and upskilling their workforce to boost productivity and stay competitive. But beyond the numbers, the real question is whether this technology will drive inclusive, sustainable progress — or merely deepen existing inequalities.
A creative renaissance or a crisis of originality?
There is excitement in watching an AI model produce a business proposal or marketing campaign in seconds. But let’s not mistake speed for originality. Research by Anil R Doshi and Oliver Hauser, published in Science Advances in July 2024, suggests that while AI can enhance creative output, it also risks homogenising ideas. The reason? AI is trained on existing knowledge and, without human intervention, tends to recycle rather than reinvent.
If start-ups rely too much on AI for ideation, will we still see the unexpected, the radical, the truly disruptive? Innovation has always been about breaking from the past, not merely remixing it. AI may assist the creative process — but the best ideas will still come from those who know when to step away from the algorithm.
Then there’s the ethical dilemma. If training data reflects bias, AI will reinforce it. Ownership is another question — if an algorithm designs a bestselling product, who owns it? And in an era of misinformation, AI’s ability to generate content faster than fact-checkers can verify it is already reshaping journalism, finance and governance.
A tool for impact, not a shortcut
In our own practice, we have embraced AI — not as a replacement for human intelligence, but as an accelerant. For start-ups, it has become a powerful tool for rapid insight generation, brainstorming and prototyping.
AI helps identify market gaps, refine business models and visualise concepts — tasks that once took weeks, now completed in hours.
But the most successful founders understand this: AI is only as powerful as the human intent behind it. Used thoughtfully, it can enable better decision-making and amplify human ingenuity. Used carelessly, it risks turning innovation into an exercise in repetition.
From financial access to food security, AI is already reshaping industries. Some of the most forward-thinking start-ups in Asean are proving that when applied with intent, AI can be a force for good — transforming not just businesses, but entire economies.
Education: Smarter, scalable learning
Education has long been a great equaliser, yet access remains uneven. AI can bridge learning gaps by adapting content in real time to a student’s strengths and weaknesses, ensuring personalised instruction.
This is especially valuable in regions with limited resources, where AI-driven platforms provide scalable, high-quality learning. Automated grading and AI tutors also ease teachers’ workloads, allowing them to focus on mentorship and critical thinking rather than rote assessments.
Edutech firms are already proving what is possible. Ruangguru, based in Indonesia, has scaled an AI-powered learning platform that adapts to each student’s pace — bringing personalised education to both bustling city centres and remote villages alike.
Finance: Expanding access to capital
Across Southeast Asia, millions remain unbanked, locked out of financial systems due to the lack of a formal credit history. AI is changing that, allowing small businesses and individuals to access loans based on alternative data sources — transaction records, utility payments and mobile usage patterns.
By assessing creditworthiness beyond traditional banking models, AI is unlocking funding opportunities for entrepreneurs while reducing default risks.
One firm leading this shift is Kredivo, a digital credit provider rethinking financial access. By analysing vast datasets in real time, the company has brought micro loans to underserved communities, helping them build financial resilience. As regulations around “buy now, pay later” models evolve, Kredivo’s AI-driven approach is setting the pace for responsible digital lending in the region.
Healthcare: AI as a co-pilot for smarter health systems
Southeast Asia’s healthcare systems remain fragmented, with slow data-sharing between hospitals, insurers and patients. AI is transforming this by streamlining information flow, cutting administrative bottlenecks and improving early diagnostics. Predictive analytics can flag high-risk patients sooner, helping doctors intervene before conditions worsen.
Singapore-based Smarter Health is addressing these inefficiencies. By improving data exchange and reducing bureaucratic friction, the company is enabling hospitals and insurers to deliver faster, more cost-effective healthcare. With fresh investment in hand, it is expanding its services to improve cross-border healthcare accessibility — an essential move in a region where patients often seek treatment abroad.
Agriculture: Smarter farming for a growing population
Food security is one of the greatest challenges of our time, and AI is playing a pivotal role in addressing it. Machine learning models can analyse soil health, predict weather patterns and detect crop diseases before they spread.
In an era where climate unpredictability threatens yields, precision agriculture ensures that resources are used efficiently, boosting output while reducing environmental harm.
Malaysia’s Poladrone is helping farms transition to smarter, more sustainable practices. The company’s fleet of AI-powered drones optimises pesticide application and monitors plant health, reducing waste and improving yields. By automating some of the most labour-intensive processes in farming, Poladrone is making agriculture more resilient in the face of climate change.
Sustainability: AI for climate resilience
As cities expand and deforestation accelerates, climate challenges across Asean are growing more urgent. AI-driven solutions are stepping in — tracking illegal land use, optimising energy efficiency and facilitating carbon offsetting.
By analysing real-time satellite imagery and environmental data, AI can predict ecological shifts before they become crises.
Among the firms tackling these issues is Fairatmos, a start-up developing AI-powered carbon tracking and offsetting tools. By connecting corporations with verified carbon sequestration projects — such as mangrove restoration and reforestation — it is offering businesses a credible way to meet their net zero goals. With backing from investors, it is now scaling its efforts to build a more transparent carbon marketplace across Southeast Asia.
AI will not replace human ingenuity — but it will challenge it. The leaders who shape AI, rather than letting it shape them, will set the course for industries, economies and societies. AI is a tool, not a substitute for vision. Its legacy depends on us.
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