Photo Credit: CCO Affendi & Media Centre Nadzri/Universiti Teknologi Brunei, ASEAN Foundation/AI Ready ASEAN

Brunei Darussalam has officially joined the growing movement to make artificial intelligence (AI) skills more accessible across the region. On 5 June 2025, the ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org, launched the AI Ready ASEAN programme in Brunei, in collaboration with local partners Big BWN Project and Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB).  

The launch took place alongside the Digital Future Conference and Exhibition 2025, reinforcing Brunei’s commitment to equipping its people, especially youth, educators, and parents, with the tools to understand and engage with AI in a meaningful and responsible way. This launch marks the start of the programme’s mission to empower 20,000 Bruneians with AI literacy, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to navigate and shape the future of AI.

The launch ceremony was officiated by Yang Mulia Dr. Haji Azman bin Ahmad, Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam, who underscored the importance of preparing citizens to be not just users, but shapers of technology.

“As ASEAN moves forward in its digitalisation agenda, we must ensure our citizens—especially youth, educators, and parents—are not merely passive consumers of technology, but active participants in shaping it,” he stated. “Beyond technical knowledge, we must embed ethics, inclusivity, and responsibility into everything we do.”

The Brunei rollout began with a series of Hour of Code workshops on 3 June 2025, where students at IBTE Agro-Technology Campus and Maktab Duli Pengiran Muda Al-Muhtadee Billah College explored foundational AI concepts through interactive Code.org modules. Facilitated by UTB and Big BWN Project, the sessions made AI both accessible and engaging for youth.

The official launch on 5 June 2025 included a live Hour of Code demonstration and the signing of grant agreements, underscoring a collective effort to promote inclusive and responsible AI education. As part of the broader AI Ready ASEAN initiative, which targets 5.5 million people across the region, Brunei is set to play an essential role in advancing this goal.

Looking ahead, UTB and Big BWN Project will continue delivering workshops and community outreach, helping to build a more digitally empowered and resilient Brunei.