Exclusive interview: Dato Seri Ivan Teh on responsible AI and the decade ahead

Artificial intelligence has stopped being a question of capability. The tools work. What is unresolved is everything around them: who gets access, who gets left behind, and whether the people building this generation of systems are asking bigger questions than the last one did.

Few technology leaders in the region have argued that case as consistently as Dato’ Seri Ivan Teh. Known for his advocacy of AI-driven transformation, digital innovation and talent development, he has spent years making a fairly unfashionable point: that technology should be measured by the human impact it produces, not the disruption it causes.

We spoke to him about the next chapter of AI, the responsibilities of modern technology leadership, sustainable job creation, and why he believes humanity has to stay at the centre of the work.

On what is genuinely new

AI is evolving at extraordinary pace. What excites you most about where this is heading?

What excites me most is that technology is becoming far more accessible than ever before.

A few years ago, advanced AI capabilities were available only to large organisations with massive resources. Today, even small businesses, students, startups and independent creators can access tools that dramatically increase productivity and creativity. That changes everything.

We are moving into a world where innovation is no longer limited by geography or scale. A young entrepreneur with the right idea and the right mindset can now build something globally competitive with the help of AI. At the same time, AI’s potential to elevate healthcare, education, sustainability, agriculture, manufacturing and public services remains far greater than what we see today.

The real opportunity is not AI for the sake of technology. It is AI for the sake of improving everyday life. The future will belong to people and organisations that know how to combine technology with human creativity and adaptability.

On what separates the leaders

The AI race is getting more competitive globally. What will separate the real leaders from everyone else?

I do not think the winners will simply be the ones with the biggest budgets or the most computing power. The real leaders will be the ones who understand how to apply AI meaningfully and responsibly.

Technology alone is not enough. What matters is whether AI can be used appropriately to solve real problems, improve productivity, create new opportunities and deliver tangible value to society.

I also believe adaptability will become one of the biggest competitive advantages. The pace of change today is incredibly fast. Organisations and governments willing to evolve, experiment and learn continuously will move ahead much faster than those that resist change.

As AI becomes embedded in everyday life, people are becoming far more conscious of how these technologies influence decisions, businesses and society. The organisations that succeed in the long term will not simply be the ones that innovate fastest, but the ones that innovate while balancing ambition with ethics, a sense of responsibility and human-centred thinking.

On work

There is real concern about AI replacing jobs. How should societies prepare?

The conversation should not just be about job replacement. It should be about job transformation.

AI will automate certain tasks, yes. But historically, every major technological shift has also created new industries and opportunities. The challenge is whether we are prepared for the disruption.

Education systems, governments and businesses need to work much more closely together now. Continuous learning can no longer be optional. The skills people need five years from now may look very different from today.

Don’t compete against AI. Learn how to work with AI.

That is what I tell young professionals and young entrepreneurs. The people who adapt will become incredibly valuable, because AI still needs human judgment, creativity, emotional intelligence, leadership and ethical thinking. Technology should empower people, not create fear. But preparation and mindset are critical.

On responsibility

You often speak about balancing innovation with humanity. Why does that matter more now?

Because technology is becoming deeply embedded into everyday life. AI is influencing decisions, communication, productivity, healthcare, education, jobs, even how people consume information. That means technology leaders carry a much bigger responsibility today than ever before.

Innovation without empathy can become very dangerous. We cannot become so obsessed with speed and disruption that we forget the human consequences of what we build. For me, leadership today is about asking bigger questions. Are we creating opportunities? Are we improving lives? Are we helping people feel more empowered, or more disconnected?

The strongest technology ecosystems of the future will not only be the most advanced. They will also be the ones people trust. Trust is built when people feel technology is working for them and with them, not against them.

On competitiveness

What do organisations and countries need to do now to stay competitive?

Talent development is probably the single most important investment. Technology evolves quickly, but talent and the ability to learn remain the foundation of everything.

Collaboration matters more than ever, too. The organisations and countries moving fastest in AI are usually the ones where governments, private companies, universities and startups work together closely instead of operating in silos.

And there needs to be long-term thinking. Building meaningful innovation ecosystems does not happen overnight. It requires consistency, infrastructure, investment, supportive policies and a culture that encourages experimentation. The future will reward those who move forward with courage, but also strategically.

On starting out

What would you tell young entrepreneurs entering the AI space today?

First, focus on solving real problems. People sometimes become too focused on trends or hype, but the companies that last are usually the ones creating genuine value.

Second, stay adaptable. The ability to learn, unlearn and relearn may become the most important skill of the next decade.

Third, do not lose the human side of leadership. The best leaders are not just technically capable. They know how to inspire people, build trust, communicate vision and create strong cultures. AI can increase efficiency, but human connection still matters enormously.

Entrepreneurs today have incredible opportunities. With AI, small teams can build products and businesses that once required huge organisations. That is a very exciting shift.

On the future he wants

What kind of future would you personally like to help shape?

I would like to see a future where technology creates more inclusion, not more division. Where AI helps improve education, healthcare, economic opportunity and quality of life for more people, not just a small percentage of society.

I also hope we keep building a generation that sees technology not only as a business opportunity, but as a tool to solve meaningful human challenges. For me, success is ultimately about impact. If technology can help societies become more resilient, more connected and more hopeful, then we are moving in the right direction.

The world does not just need more innovation right now. It needs responsible innovation with humanity at its core.

Where this leaves things

The through line is consistent with the record. The same emphasis on talent, access and responsibility shows up in the campus and curriculum work and in the argument that analytics should be reachable by smaller companies, not only the largest ones.

True progress, on this reading, will depend less on how advanced the systems become and more on how responsibly they are built, how inclusively the opportunities are shared, and how firmly human values stay embedded in the technology itself.