About us
An independent ASEAN institute researching artificial intelligence
What is liwaiwai?
liwaiwai is an independent AI research, engineering, assurance and engagement institute focused on ASEAN. It is not a public body, a university or an AI vendor, and it does not sell AI systems.
The purpose of liwaiwai is the furtherance of education and public benefit through research, knowledge exchange and public engagement in the field of artificial intelligence, with a focus on the ASEAN region. beneath and beyond, now and next.
Why ASEAN?
Artificial intelligence does not land on a single, uniform context. It meets the specific political, economic, technological and social realities of each place it enters. Southeast Asia is one of the most diverse and dynamic regions in the world, and how AI develops here will shape economies, institutions and societies for decades.
Understanding AI in ASEAN means understanding differences in governance, capacity, language, labour, risk and trust across the region. liwaiwai focuses here because responsible AI must be grounded in the place it operates, not imported as a single global assumption.
READ
READ is how liwaiwai studies and builds with AI. Four connected dimensions of understanding the technology and preparing it for responsible use.
- 01
Research
Independent research into AI, governance, safety, technology and society.
- 02
Engineering
Tools, benchmarks and systems that make AI measurable and testable.
- 03
Assurance
Evaluation, assessment, testing, safety and reliability.
- 04
Deployment
Practical guidance for adopting AI responsibly in organisations and institutions.
CARE
CARE is how liwaiwai works with people, not just with systems. Four connected dimensions of responding to AI in society.
- 01
Community
Connecting researchers, practitioners, institutions and wider society.
- 02
Advocacy
Supporting informed discussion and responsible approaches to AI.
- 03
Reassurance
Helping people understand AI risks and opportunities through evidence and clear communication.
- 04
Engagement
Events, sessions, consultations, presentations, calls and public dialogue.
What we do
liwaiwai carries out independent research, builds open engineering tools, assesses AI systems, and works with institutions and communities to support responsible AI in the ASEAN context.
We publish findings openly, develop frameworks and guidance, run evaluations, and convene dialogue across technical, policy and societal dimensions. Our work is grounded and honest about what is known and what is not.
Who we engage
How liwaiwai is governed
The lab is governed by its independent Board of Advisors and led by its executive team. Our governance protects our independence, our openness and our accountability to the public.
Independent governance
The lab is governed by its Board of Advisors. Advisors act independently and in the best interests of the public mission, not of any vendor or funder.
Open research
Our frameworks, guidelines and findings are published openly so the wider research community can inspect, reuse and build on our work.
Community-funded
Donations and grants keep the lab running. No funder or partner can suppress or soften our findings, and our governance protects that independence.
Organisation
liwaiwai is built by a small team across the ASEAN region. We work without rigid business titles, hiring for ownership and craft rather than hierarchy. The team grows as the mission grows.
Independence & funding
Independent by design
We are structured to call things as we find them. No funder or partner can suppress or soften our findings.
Open wherever possible
We publish our frameworks, guidelines and tooling openly, so the wider research community can inspect, reuse and build on our work.
Community funded
Donations and grants keep the lab running, keeping us accountable to the public we serve rather than to any single commercial interest.
Work with us.
Whether you are a researcher, a practitioner, an organisation or someone who cares about AI in the region, there is a place for you here.