"Government Alone Is Not Enough... Cloud Infrastructure Requires Public-Private Cooperation"

Consensus Reached at APEC Digital Forum: "AI Divide Is an Infrastructure Divide"
Building Resilience in the AI Era Requires a Structure Involving Public and Local Communities
Expansion of AI Applications in Disaster Prediction, Industrial Safety, and Public Services
Malaysia's Rural Digitalization Drives GDP Growth... Inclusive Strategy in the Spotlight

There was a suggestion that in order to enhance resilience across society through the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies, it is necessary to go beyond simply expanding infrastructure and to establish a structural response that involves public, private, and local community participation. At the APEC Global Digital·AI Forum held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Incheon on August 5, discussions focused on the role and limitations of AI technologies in various fields such as bridging the digital divide, infrastructure development, cybersecurity, and public service innovation, as well as the need for an inclusive approach.

The panel included Wilson White, Vice President of Public Policy at Google; Yang Seunghyun, Head of SK AI R&D Center; Pei-Khan Chuang, Founder of Taiwan’s Cycraft Technology; Abdul Karim Fakir Bin Ali, Executive Director of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC); and Kim Younghoon, Vice President for Korea-Japan Policy Cooperation at Amazon Web Services.

The first point emphasized was the importance of building digital infrastructure and securing cloud capabilities. The panelists agreed that “the adoption of AI is impossible without a strong cloud-based infrastructure,” and that public-private cooperation is more effective than government-only approaches. Vice President Kim cited cases of cooperation with Korea and Japan, explaining, “It is difficult for governments to build infrastructure alone due to limitations in both capital and technological speed.” He pointed out that, as seen in Japan’s AI infrastructure project ‘GENIAC,’ a model in which global cloud companies participate under government leadership is desirable.

The potential for AI technologies to contribute to solving social problems was also given significant attention. Vice President White introduced Google’s efforts to strengthen digital resilience through disaster response systems such as ‘FloodHub’ for flood preparedness, ‘AlphaFold’ for supporting new drug development through protein structure analysis, and AI training programs for nonprofits and small businesses. He particularly noted that “the key to building a resilient digital society is not just adopting technology, but supporting community-based organizations such as nonprofits and small business owners.”

The use of AI in the public service sector was also discussed. Center Director Yang introduced how SKT is integrating AI with various fields such as telecommunications, energy, education, and industrial safety, transforming them into real-time monitoring and prediction-based infrastructure. He added that in industrial sites, AI is already being used in systems that detect falls, fires, and intrusions and issue immediate warnings.

Policy approaches to digital inclusion and addressing social inequality were also presented. Malaysia has expanded opportunities for participation in the digital economy by establishing digital centers (NADI) in rural areas and promoting both telemedicine and the digitalization of agriculture. Executive Director Abdul Karim Fakir Bin Ali analyzed that “such policies have led to an increase in GDP growth rate (from 3.3% in 2021 to 5.1% in 2024) and job creation, and have also contributed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

The urgency of nurturing AI talent and improving policy frameworks was also highlighted. Vice President White stated, “To remain competitive in the AI era, it is essential not only to have infrastructure but also an ‘AI-ready workforce,’” emphasizing the need for retraining and policy consistency. He cited the AI policy frameworks of the United States and Japan as examples, noting the need for balanced policy design that both promotes AI adoption and ensures responsibility and safety.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.