Series: ADB Competition Policy Initiative
Regulating the Unregulated: AI Platforms and Competition Policy in ASEAN
5 May 2026


On 5 May in Manila, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Philippine Competition Commission (PCC) co-hosted a regional knowledge session on how competition authorities can keep pace with AI platforms. At this International Competition Network Annual Meeting pre-event, participants deliberated on the responsible use of AI and its implications for ASEAN markets.

As global technology firms expand across multiple layers of the AI value chain, ensuring fair and contestable markets is becoming harder. Participants stressed three priorities for responding:

• Regional cooperation, since AI-driven markets operate across borders

• Proactive, adaptive regulation that anticipates rather than trails market change

• Stronger data governance and sustained capacity building, so that authorities can address emerging forms of platform dominance

Together, these steps can help keep AI-enabled markets competitive, inclusive, and responsive.

Program and Learning Materials

Disclaimer

The views expressed on this website are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.

Event Coordinator/s

  • Yesim Elhan-Kayalar
  • J. Kathleen Magadia

ADB Organizer/s

  • Economic Research and Development Impact Department

Partner Organization/s

Topics

  • Industry and Trade
  • Private Sector
  • Public Sector Management and Governance
  • Regional Cooperation and Integration