By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 27: Artificial intelligence (AI) is a transformative and powerful tool that, when guided by shared values and community needs, can significantly enhance public service delivery and overall quality of life without compromising human connection.
This was highlighted by Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng during a special video interview session today at the XVII Unesco Creative Cities Network (UCCN) Annual Conference held in Enghien-les-Bains near Paris.
According to a media release, this year’s conference, themed “Culture and Artificial Intelligence: Shaping the Future of UNESCO Creative Cities”, brought together member cities from around the world to explore the integration of AI into cultural development and sustainable urban innovation.
Representing Kuching, Malaysia’s first city designated as a Unesco Creative City of Gastronomy since 2021, Wee was also featured in a special video interview highlighting global perspectives on the promises and pitfalls of AI in the creative and cultural sectors.
The video, featuring reflections from city leaders, will be shared through Unesco’s global communication platforms.
During the interview, Wee stressed that while AI presents vast opportunities for innovation, its development must be rooted in ethical frameworks, inclusive access, and respect for cultural uniqueness.
“We must ensure AI development respects local culture and originality. This requires diverse datasets, ethical standards, and meaningful community involvement,” he said.
Wee advocated for AI to be integrated into schools, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), cultural sectors, and public services to ignite creativity and smart progress across education, business, policymaking, and the arts.
“By embedding AI across sectors, we can generate fresh ideas that preserve our identity while driving inclusive innovation,” he added.
At the same time, he acknowledged AI’s limitations in replicating emotional intelligence and cultural depth of human interaction.
“There must be ethical guidelines and active community participation, to ensure AI empowers rather than erodes our heritage,” he stressed.
Wee’s participation reflects Kuching’s commitment to harmonising digital advancement with cultural preservation, in line with the Unesco Creative Cities Network’s global vision for inclusive and sustainable urban development. — DayakDaily
