In Southeast Asia, where tech adoption is rapidly accelerating and digital transformation is a top policy priority, a new role is emerging in boardrooms and strategy sessions: the AI Whisperer. These executive advisors help CEOs and leadership teams unlock AI’s full potential while managing its risks.

As ASEAN economies scale up investments in digital infrastructure—from Indonesia’s $2 billion sovereign AI fund to Singapore’s National AI Strategy 2.0—corporates are grappling with how to deploy AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and local LLMs without destabilizing operations or reputations.

AI Fluency: The New Executive Literacy

In Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam, boardrooms are now hiring AI-savvy advisors not just for implementation—but for strategic alignment. A Korn Ferry survey shows 74% of ASEAN executives feel underprepared to lead AI transformation without expert guidance. Meanwhile, AI-related job postings in SEA jumped 86% YoY in Q1 2025 (LinkedIn SEA Report).

Many regional firms are now adopting the Chief AI Officer (CAIO) model or building AI governance teams within digital transformation units. Examples include:

• Singapore’s DBS Bank, which embedded AI into fraud detection, resulting in $100M saved annually
• Telkom Indonesia, which uses AI Whisperers to guide strategy across 8 subsidiaries
• Petronas, whose AI Governance Council includes ethics officers, engineers, and external advisors

Why AI Strategy Fails Without AI Whisperers

Despite high enthusiasm, many ASEAN firms struggle to scale AI beyond pilot programs. According to IDC Asia-Pacific, 57% of Southeast Asian enterprises have deployed AI pilots, but only 21% have turned them into production-level systems.

Common roadblocks:

• Lack of clean, usable data
• Poor cross-functional collaboration
• Vendor misalignment with company goals
• Anxiety among non-technical teams

This is where AI Whisperers become critical: they translate technical jargon into strategic language, align AI projects with business KPIs, and drive cross-unit collaboration.

Productivity Gains and Risk Controls

Southeast Asian companies using executive AI advisors report measurable results:

But there’s still risk. A joint EY-Temasek study found that only 27% of Southeast Asian firms have clear AI risk protocols, even though 69% acknowledge reputational risks tied to generative AI.

What Southeast Asian Boards Should Ask

Before scaling AI, executives in the region are advised to ask:

• Is there an internal champion who understands both business and AI?
• Are we measuring AI ROI—beyond productivity—to include risk mitigation and customer trust?
• Do we have governance protocols that meet emerging local regulations (e.g., Singapore’s Model AI Governance Framework, Indonesia’s upcoming AI law)?
• Are we training mid-level managers to lead AI-literate teams?

Southeast Asia's Competitive Advantage

Unlike the West, Southeast Asia has an advantage: younger leadership, faster digital infrastructure deployment, and regulatory flexibility. With smart investment in AI Whisperers—either in-house or consultant-based—firms can leapfrog legacy systems and integrate AI in ways that align with Southeast Asia’s diverse, fast-changing business landscape.

Final Takeaway

In this AI-powered economy, success will belong to companies that don’t just adopt tools—but build the leadership muscle to integrate them responsibly. AI Whisperers are becoming indispensable strategic partners in Southeast Asia, helping local champions turn innovation into long-term impact.