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On 13 November 2024, Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) and UNESCO, in collaboration with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC), announced the launch of the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Readiness Assessment in Cambodia. By launching this important initiative, Cambodia joins other 60 Member States globally, including 7 at the ASEAN region, in gathering unparalleled insights into Cambodia’s AI ecosystems to evaluate its preparedness for the ethical and responsible development and use of AI.

Over 180 participants from a diverse range of stakeholders, including line ministries, research institutes and education institutions, the private sector and civil society organizations participated in the event and engaged in discussions towards developing an ethical AI governance in Cambodia.

Presiding over the announcement ceremony, H.E. Khov Makara, Secretary of State of the MPTC highlighted that “today’s event is a critical starting point of the process of assessing the current situation and the level of readiness for the development and use of artificial intelligence technology in Cambodia in an ethical and responsible manner, as well as identifying challenges, opportunities and providing basic recommendations in setting the direction for development and responding to risks.”

In 2021, 194 countries have adopted the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence at the UNESCO General Conference. This first-ever global guideline aims to promote policy-setting that leverages the positive impact of AI while addressing its inherent risks. UNESCO is supporting governments and national authorities for AI around the world in implementing the Recommendation through normative and technical assistance in deploying the AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM).

The RAM is a macro level instrument that will help countries understand where they stand on the scale of preparedness to implement AI ethically and responsibly for all their citizens, highlighting what institutional and regulatory changes will be needed. Furthermore, the output of the RAM will also help UNESCO tailor the policy reform and institutional capacity building efforts to the needs of different countries. This will ensure that the country has in place human capacity, policies, and regulations to address the challenges brought by AI such as reinforcing traditional biases and ensure that people and their interest are always at the centre of AI development.

In the ASEAN region, seven member States are undertaking the RAM in 2024-2025. The output of the RAM exercise will be a Country Report that, together with an Action/Implementation Plan, contributes to the ongoing AI policy and regulatory efforts in the ASEAN countries, in line with the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics. Such effort will also contribute to the implementation of the newly adopted Global Digital Compact (GDC) that provides directions towards a world in which ethical AI governance serves all.

In Cambodia, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC), and the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) are partnering with UNESCO to deploy the RAM as a critical step for assessing what frameworks, capacities, and competencies exist at a country-level to support the ethical use and development of AI in Cambodia, and contribute toward developing Cambodia’s national AI policy and strategy.