Risks and resilience in AI and digital trade: Workshop held in Singapore

As digital technologies rapidly transform economies across Southeast Asia, there is a pressing need for policymakers to strike a balance between innovation, and safety and trust. A recent workshop in Singapore brought together researchers, policymakers, and regional experts to examine how emerging risks around artificial intelligence (AI) and digital trade can be addressed.

On 18 July, Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy (CIIP) delivered a workshop in partnership with UNIDO and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, at Innovation 4.0, National University of Singapore. The workshop was kindly hosted by the Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk (IPUR).

Exploring public perceptions of AI and digital trade

The session opened with remarks from Professor Leonard Lee (IPUR) and Professor Sir Mike Gregory (University of Cambridge), who also chaired the day’s proceedings. Two newly published policy briefs were presented, drawing on data from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll, the world’s largest study of public perceptions of risk.

CIIP’s Dr Jennifer Castañeda-Navarrete presented findings on public perceptions of AI and their implications for governance, followed by Dr Carlos López-Gómez, who explored digital trade policy and rising concerns around data privacy and digital trust. Both presentations highlighted the importance of aligning national strategies with public expectations and structural risk factors.

Perspectives from across the region

The event also featured perspectives from Cambodia, Thailand, and Singapore, offering a comparative look at how countries in the region are approaching digital policy challenges. These sessions were presented by Dr Sophal Try (Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation), Dr Nopparuj Chindasombatcharoen (Thailand Development Research Institute) and Dr Taojun Xie (Nanyang Technological University).

These inputs helped to anchor the discussion in the realities of current policy and the varied contexts of different countries in the region.

Key priorities for inclusive and trusted digital policy

Throughout the day, participants discussed how digital and AI policy can promote innovation alongside safety, inclusion, and public trust. Several shared priorities emerged, including the importance of transparent governance frameworks, cross-border alignment on data protection, and investment in national capacities to manage AI risks responsibly.

The workshop followed a regional event held in Jakarta earlier in the week. Together, the two events offered a platform to share findings, compare national experiences, and validate key recommendations with policymakers and researchers across Southeast Asia.

About the project

This event is part of the project Policymaking for a more resilient world: leveraging the World Risk Poll for more effective digital, labour, and industrial policies, funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.

Four policy briefs will be produced by Cambridge Industrial Innovation Policy as part of this project. The executive summaries of these briefs are now available for discussion. They cover the following topics:

• AI frameworks and regulations for safe and inclusive AI use,
• Digital economy agreements, including regulations for cross-border data flows,
• Labour policies to mitigate workplace risks
• The role of industrial policy in enhancing socio-economic resilience.