Kuala lumpur: As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes deeply embedded in everyday communication, societies across Asia are confronting questions that extend far beyond technology.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, these questions framed MACE CONNECT 2026: International Symposium in Communication and Media Research, an online forum held recently featuring distinguished scholars from Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The symposium was organised by the Malaysian Association of Communication Educators (MACE). Rather than celebrating AI as an unquestioned innovation, the symposium critically examined its implications for governance, culture, journalism, and public trust.
AI Governance
Emeritus Prof Dr Ang Peng Hwa from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, opened the discussion by reframing AI governance as an exercise in harm prevention rather than technological optimisation. He observed that between 2024 and 2025, AI usage has expanded dramatically, from assisting with idea generation to offering coding support, health advice, emotional reassurance, and even life guidance. While such developments offer efficiency and accessibility, Prof Ang warned that excessive dependence on AI poses serious cognitive and social risks.
In education, overreliance may weaken students' capacity for critical thinking and intellectual struggle. In mental health contexts, AI systems may validate harmful thoughts instead of providing necessary challenge, especially when human supervision is absent. Of growing concern, he noted, is the spread of misinformation, amplified by algorithm-driven platforms and targeted advertising.
Citing recent research trends, Prof Dr Ang highlighted that young males, particularly those with lower levels of formal education, are disproportionately prone to believing and sharing fake news. This vulnerability, he argued, is compounded by constant exposure to persuasive content on social media, where emotional appeals often override factual scrutiny. In response, he suggested that policy measures such as advertising taxation, already implemented in several developed economies, could be considered to support the funding of media literacy initiatives and to strengthen local media institutions.
AI on Cultural Values
Shifting from governance to culture, Prof Dr Rachmah Ida of Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia, examined AI's impact on Southeast Asian cultural narratives. Despite the region's rapid adoption of digital technologies and its role as a testing ground for AI-enabled platforms, she observed that core cultural values remain remarkably consistent. Media and advertising continue to emphasise collectivism, family ties, social harmony, and local symbolism.
However, Prof Ida warned that AI-generated content risks oversimplifying Southeast Asian identities. Automated storytelling systems may reproduce stereotypes or flatten cultural diversity, undermining authenticity and cultural agency. At the same time, she highlighted the opportunities presented by AI, noting that when guided thoughtfully, the technology has the potential to amplify rather than replace Asian voices. However, she emphasised that the key challenge lies in ensuring AI-driven narratives are informed by local knowledge, social context, and cultural nuances to preserve the authenticity and diversity of Asian voices.
AI and Crisis of Credibility
From the Malaysian perspective, Assoc Prof Dr Moniza Waheed of Universiti Putra Malaysia highlighted a pressing concern in the AI era: crisis of credibility. She emphasised that the core challenge today is no longer access to information, but the verification of authenticity. Citing data from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Dr Moniza pointed to an increase in deepfakes, manipulated visuals, and false information circulating online. Even when platforms remove misleading content, its influence often persists. This is particularly concerning during politically sensitive periods such as elections, when emotionally charged misinformation spreads rapidly.
AI, she argued, has lowered barriers to content creation while increasing the burden on journalists, regulators, and researchers to maintain trust. While information is easier than ever to produce, credibility has become increasingly difficult to sustain.
Regional Collaboration
As the symposium concluded, a common theme emerged across the discussions: the necessity of regional collaboration among ASEAN scholars. Rather than relying on Western-centric frameworks, participants called for communication models rooted in Asian values, social realities, and lived community experiences. The speakers emphasised the media's responsibility in shaping public discourse through its agenda-setting role, stressing the importance of bringing voices from everyday communities into the mainstream conversation.
Ultimately, MACE CONNECT 2026 presented AI as both disruptor and enabler. It can accelerate productivity, transform storytelling, and support research, but also risks cognitive dependency, misinformation, and cultural homogenisation. The symposium offered a hopeful but sober reminder: in an increasingly algorithm-driven world, the future of communication in Asia depends not on technology alone but on how responsibly humans choose to guide it together.