Picture shows ESCAP, led by Adnan Aliani (second from left), Director of the Strategy and Programme Management Division, and Microsoft, represented by Mike Yeh (third from right), Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Microsoft Asia, at the MOA signing ceremony.
By Mike Yeh, Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Microsoft Asia
In February 2024, Microsoft marked a significant milestone in its commitment to making AI accessible to everyone by unveiling the AI Access Principles. At the announcement, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft, emphasized that these principles are designed to ensure AI technology is innovative, inclusive, and widely available. These principles guide Microsoft’s efforts to provide the necessary infrastructure, platforms, tools, and services to empower individuals, developers, organizations, and nations in every country where we work and live. The Access Principles underscore Microsoft’s belief that AI should serve the public good, bridging the digital divide, and fostering innovation across diverse sectors.
Just five months later, in July 2024, Microsoft solidified this commitment by signing the first-ever Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) to harness the power of AI for sustainable development. The MOA was signed at the UN Conference Center in Bangkok, where Microsoft’s Corporate, External, and Legal Affairs team from across Asia was able to meet with UN-ESCAP experts to learn more about the opportunities for AI to drive positive societal impact. This landmark MOA represents a significant step toward realizing Microsoft’s AI Access Principles in Asia and ensuring AI is inclusive and widely available.
Following the MOA signing, Antony Cook, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, shared his vision for how AI can empower Asia and advance the digital transformation of the Global South. He emphasized AI’s potential to bridge socioeconomic gaps by providing equitable access to technology and fostering inclusive growth by enabling government to provide new and better citizen services.
The Microsoft team quickly moved from the signing ceremony to action. In October, Microsoft’s team in Malaysia hosted a delegation from ASEAN investment promotion agencies to share insights on investing and doing business in ASEAN. This dialogue was crucial, given Microsoft’s recent investment announcements in Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia, and our ongoing partnerships with government to drive digital transformation, skills development, and innovation that will enable ASEAN to leapfrog and lead in the AI era.
In November, Microsoft participated in the Southeast Asia Multi-Stakeholder Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals. We showcased how AI can address challenges related to SDG 5 (Gender Equality) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). We concluded our participation with a full-day AI skills training session for the 100 event participants and UN-ESCAP personnel.
The partnership with UN-ESCAP marks a pivotal moment in leveraging AI for the greater good. By combining Microsoft’s technological expertise with UN-ESCAP’s regional influence, we are poised to tackle key challenges where AI can drive transformative change—empowering communities, bridging the digital divide, and ensuring AI serves as a catalyst for sustainable, inclusive development. At Microsoft, we are committed to making the AI Access Principles real every day, in every country, and are privileged to be on this journey with UN-ESCAP.