Cambodia's Policy on the Artificial Intelligence: Determinants, Directions, Interim Outcomes

Southeast Asia: Actual Problems of Development. 2026. Vol. 1. No. 1(70). P. 153–163.

Kanaev E.

The article aims to specify the degree of success Cambodia has been able to achieve in developing its Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem seen through the prism of the state of the country’s non-digital assets as an outcome of its economic modernization, as well as of its digital projects and initiatives. Outlining the specifics of Cambodia’s economic modernization paradigm and assessing the results obtained to date, the paper considers major Cambodia’s projects and initiatives in the digital field, their achievements and shortcomings, to finally turn to exploring Cambodia’s digital tools and their development potential. The author argues that although Cambodia pays close attention to building its national digital ecosystem, a gap between its non-digital and digital tools (the former lag far behind the latter) narrows its space of maneuver with regard to implementing comprehensive policy in the AI field. The fundamental problem with Cambodia’s policy on AI is not its failure to “think big”, but rather insufficient instrumental, mostly, non-digital, assets. The academic novelty and originality of the paper stem from its research focus, as there is dearth of analytics on AI-related issues from the perspective of ASEAN and its member states. The author’s attempt to fill this analytical gap presents a step forward in conceptualizing major political, security and economic developments in Southeast Asia and adds academic and practical value to ASEAN studies. 

Keywords: искусственный интеллект, перспективы, экономическая модернизация, economic modernization, prospects, Камбоджа, Artificial Intelligence, Cambodia, digital projects and initiatives, цифровые проекты и инициативы, development gaps, Bakong, разрывы в уровнях развития, баконг