Human-Centered AI for Shared Prosperity: A Multi-Stakeholder Framework Bridging Innovation, Ethics, and Inclusion in Southeast Asia

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of artificial intelligence across Southeast Asia's digital economy has created an urgent policy tension between fostering innovation, safeguarding human rights, and ensuring inclusive prosperity, yet existing governance frameworks remain fragmented and insufficiently attentive to the region's diverse socio-political realities. Drawing on a systematic interdisciplinary review spanning computer science, law, ethics, and social sciences, combined with policy analysis of ASEAN's AI governance instruments including the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics (2024) and the ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap (2025-2030), this study develops a multi-stakeholder human-centered governance framework through comparative analysis of AI policy approaches across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The analysis reveals three governance deficits: fragmented institutional coordination, predominance of non-binding guidelines lacking enforcement, and inadequate participation of civil society and underrepresented communities. In response, the proposed framework operationalizes four interconnected pillars rights-based regulation mandating AI impact assessments, structured multi-stakeholder engagement, strategic localization of global best practices, and sustained capacity building demonstrating that responsible AI governance serves not as a brake on progress but as a strategic enabler of sustainable development and shared prosperity. This study contributes the first comprehensive human-centered AI governance framework specifically tailored to the Southeast Asian context, providing actionable guidance for policymakers navigating complex tradeoffs between technological advancement, human rights protection, and equitable development.