AI Forum Shifts Focus from Breakthroughs to Adoption

Ministers, policymakers, industry representatives and academics joined the APEC High-Level Forum on AI on Friday for an open dialogue on the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence.

Participants said the next challenge for AI is no longer developing more powerful models but translating the technology into real-world benefits for businesses and communities.

Opening the forum, China’s Minister of the Cyberspace Administration of China Zhuang Rongwen called for closer cooperation among economies to support artificial intelligence (AI) development that is open, safe and people-centered.

"Global innovation in AI has entered an unprecedented period of activity, bringing major opportunities alongside real challenges," said Zhuang. "How to guide AI to develop in a direction that benefits everyone is a question that requires close cooperation between APEC economies."

Throughout the forum, speakers highlighted that the economic impact of AI will increasingly depend on its adoption, rather than solely on advances in the underlying technology.

Discussions focused on expanding access to AI tools, strengthening digital infrastructure, building skills and helping businesses integrate AI into day-to-day operations so that economies at different stages of development can benefit from AI.

Business leaders pointed to AI applications ranging from healthcare access in smaller cities and safer traffic management to cross-border payment systems for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“AI is already improving productivity, accelerating research and creating new opportunities for businesses across the Asia-Pacific,” said APEC Secretariat Executive Director Eduardo Pedrosa in his remarks at the forum.

“While APEC economies are at different stages of AI development, that diversity is an opportunity for economies to exchange experiences and learn from one another. The APEC Artificial Intelligence Initiative gives economies a practical framework to share expertise, build capability and advance responsible AI together,” Pedrosa added.

The initiative supports cooperation on responsible AI, innovation, capacity building and skills development, reflecting APEC’s approach of helping economies harness AI while recognizing their different levels of readiness.

The forum also underscored that wider AI adoption will depend on public trust. Participants called for greater transparency from AI developers, interoperable governance approaches and continued cooperation among governments, industry and researchers to build confidence in the technology.

"The development and governance of AI concerns the future of all within the region. All economies need to seize opportunities and address challenges together, so that AI becomes a positive force, injecting sustained momentum into building an Asia-Pacific community,” Zhuang concluded.

The forum resulted in the issuance of a statement on promoting AI development, which outlines priorities for continued regional cooperation on AI.

Read the Statement on Promoting AI Development in the Asia-Pacific Region