Aug 19, 2026
Artificial intelligence is changing the digital economy, but its success depends on trust. People need confidence in digital systems before they share data or adopt new technologies. Businesses also need trust to invest, while economies need it to cooperate across borders. Without trust, innovation may advance quickly, but its adoption can remain limited.
The digital transformation of the Asia-Pacific has developed over several decades. When APEC was established in 1989, its members created the Telecommunications and Information Working Group less than a year later. This recognized the growing importance of digital connectivity for economic development. Since then, technology has changed greatly, but the goal of using technology to support growth, opportunity, and people’s lives has remained.
The region has also made major progress in digital connectivity. When China last hosted APEC in 2014, just over half of the people in the Asia-Pacific used the internet. Today, almost 90 percent are online, representing nearly 1.2 billion additional people connected in one decade. The focus is now moving from basic connectivity toward using digital tools to improve productivity, public services, and economic opportunities.
Artificial intelligence is already supporting this transition. Manufacturers are using it to improve productivity, doctors are gaining tools for diagnosis and treatment, researchers are using it to accelerate scientific discovery, and small businesses can reach customers beyond their local markets. Governments are also exploring ways to provide more responsive public services. These changes may come through many practical improvements rather than only through major technological breakthroughs.
Data is another key part of this transformation. AI depends on data, and the quality and responsible use of data affect its results and reliability. People and businesses need confidence to share, use, and exchange data. This requires privacy protection, stronger cybersecurity, transparency, and governance frameworks that support innovation while protecting public trust.
Cooperation is especially important because Asia-Pacific economies have different legal systems, regulations, and levels of digital development. APEC provides a space for economies to exchange experiences, learn from one another, and improve interoperability while respecting their different domestic approaches. This cooperation can help economies respond to new technological changes as they emerge.
Future technologies will continue to develop, and new challenges will appear. Preparing for them requires more than developing new technology. It also requires strong cooperation and relationships that allow economies to respond together. Trust in secure digital systems, institutions, and responsible innovation will remain essential for protecting people while technology continues to change.
Reference
The Currency of the Digital Economy is Trust | APEC. (s. f.). APEC. https://www.apec.org/press/blogs/2026/the-currency-of-the-digital-economy-is-trust