On 18 July 2025, AI Forum, AI Singapore, CamTech University, and Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation (OCIC) co-organized the Unlocking Southeast Asia’s AI Potential: Cambodia Developer Meetup 2025 at CamTech University Auditorium, as part of the effort to promote and prepare for AI Singapore’s Pan-Southeast Asia (SEA) AI Developer Challenge 2025. This event brought together nearly a hundred participants from across Cambodia’s tech ecosystem, including students, entrepreneurs, and startup founders, alongside researchers, government representatives, and regional AI experts to reinforce the nation’s commitment to advancing regional AI leadership and leveraging AI tools such as SEA-LION (Southeast Asian Languages In One Network).
In his opening speech, Mr. Chhem Siriwat, President of AI Forum Cambodia, said the event showed Cambodia is ready to play a bigger role in regional AI. “This isn’t just about tech. It’s about building systems that understand Southeast Asian languages, values, and challenges. It’s about community,” he said. Mr. Mark Pereira of AI Singapore added, “SEA-LION is built for Southeast Asia. This developer challenge is an opportunity for Cambodian developers to shape tools that understand our people and our problems.” A key highlight was SEA-LION, an open-source language model for Southeast Asian languages, which will be central to a regional challenge in August 2025 offering over US$100,000 in prizes and cloud credits from AWS and Google Cloud.
Joining the event virtually were keynote speakers Dr. Chris Ho from AWS and Mr. Vincent Tan from Google Cloud APAC, who shared insights on real-world AI use and the need for regional innovation. A panel on “Building AI for Southeast Asia: Realities on the Ground” followed, featuring experts from Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), Techo Startup Center, AI Singapore, and the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT).
The panel explored AI’s rapid evolution and Cambodia’s growing role in the region. Dr. William Tjhi from AI Singapore discussed the importance of regional models in representing the cultural context of Cambodia and emphasised the need for a strong Khmer language data pipeline. Dr. Buoy Rina from Techo Startup Center highlighted how local startups are using generative AI for tasks like document automation and scholarship matching, with tools like SEA-LION showing promise for Khmer language use. Dr. Chen Sovann from the Ministry outlined efforts to promote AI in key sectors through research and infrastructure, while Mr. Lay Vathna from CADT pointed to ongoing challenges in GPU access, data sharing, and talent development. The session closed on an optimistic note, with Southeast Asia moving from AI adoption to development and Cambodia gaining momentum through strong collaboration.
The event concluded with a strong call to action for Cambodia’s AI community to step up, collaborate, and lead. As the country officially joins the Pan-SEA AI Developer Challenge 2025, the momentum is now shifting from inspiration to actual real-world deployment. Cambodian developers, students, and researchers are being invited not just to participate, but to shape the direction of AI that reflects Southeast Asia’s languages, cultures, and priorities. With growing institutional support, access to cutting-edge tools like SEA-LION, and mentorship from regional leaders, Cambodia is well-positioned to become a serious regional player in AI.
