Kuala Lampur, Aug. 31 -- The artificial intelligence race in Asean is no longer something Malaysia can discuss as though it belongs to the distant future.

It has started. More importantly, Indonesia appears determined to move quickly.

A Business Times survey conducted with Kantar across six major Asean economies found that 62 per cent of Indonesian companies surveyed could be classified as AI "first movers".

Thailand followed at 55 per cent, while Malaysia stood at 46 per cent.

Singapore, interestingly, registered 36 per cent, although its lower figure may reflect a more mature and cautious approach to AI adoption rather than technological weakness.

The numbers nevertheless contain an important warning for Malaysia.

Malaysia is not ...