Cooperation over competition

The notable difference here? Discussions weren’t focused on competition and sovereign gains; instead, leaders sat down to discuss quite a different question: 

“how could we work together to ensure AI actually tackles real world challenges and serves the needs of our people?”
 

Why is a focus on cooperation significant? 

Spanning one-third of the Earth's surface, the Pacific region encompasses some of the world's most geographically dispersed and culturally diverse nations – a reality that creates both significant challenges and unique opportunities for AI deployment. The ability of AI to bridge distances, process complex environmental data, and deliver services remotely makes it particularly valuable for Pacific communities seeking to strengthen climate resilience, improve healthcare access, and enhance educational opportunities across vast ocean distances. 
 
However, with most Pacific Island nations still in the earliest stages of their digital transformation journey, there is significant work to be done across the region to realise these promises. For example, while internet access is improving in many islands with the arrival of high-speed satellite services, less than half the populations of Nauru, Tuvalu and the Solomon Islands are covered by a 4G mobile network. Work is also needed to prioritise law and policy reform in areas critical to enabling AI adoption and oversight, as most Pacific states lack detailed laws governing intellectual property, privacy or data protection, cybersecurity, and consumer protection. 

“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” 

While the winds of AI governance have changed course in other parts of the world, shifting towards more nationalistic approaches to AI development, deployment and regulation, the Pacific region offers an alternative way forward.  
 
During his opening speech, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister invoked the proverb of moving ahead through collaborative regional approaches. This sentiment was echoed throughout the four days, with participants exploring partnership opportunities to increase rapid responses to cyber threats, govern AI-generated mis- and disinformation, and better enforce online safety and financial scam prevention mechanisms on social media platforms (a communications lifeline for many families dispersed across the Pacific).  

Advancing safe, responsible AI in the Pacific  

In early 2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) engaged the UTS Human Technology Institute (HTI) to research the priorities for Pacific and Southeast Asia in advancing safe, responsible and effective AI, and how these might be best supported and achieved. 
HTI consulted around 200 people globally across government, industry, academia and civil society and distilled five critical priorities for advancing safe, responsible AI across the two regions: 

1. Governance and regulation  
2. Human rights and participation  
3. Climate and sustainability  
4. Infrastructure, skills and capabilities  
5. Regional and multistakeholder cooperation.  

There are, of course, important synergies between these priorities. For example, not having the right AI skills and expertise in government can mean that countries cannot develop adequate AI policies and regulatory measures. In turn, this can impact citizen rights and the environment, and limit opportunities for effective regional cooperation. 
The discussions at Pacific Cyber Week reinforced not only the salience of these five priority areas for almost all Pacific countries, but that the fifth pillar – regional and multistakeholder cooperation – may in fact offer the key to unlocking successful advancements across the others.  

Not alone in swimming against the tide

Much work remains to ensure that the increasing use of AI does not widen existing digital divides for Pacific communities. Regional cooperation is not a simple solution, and collaboration – especially between governments – can be challenging. There are questions around which partnerships to prioritise, whether to pursue industry investment, and how to embed local values and cultural practices into AI systems.  
On the flip side, in a region characterised by geographical isolation and limited infrastructure, adopting a ‘go far together’ approach could help Pacific citizens share in AI benefits across critical areas of service delivery, cultural preservation and environmental sustainability. The Pacific Community's Digital Earth Pacific initiative exemplifies this – using satellite data and AI to help regional governments manage climate risks and natural disasters. 
Importantly, Pacific nations are not outliers in prioritising AI cooperation. Recently, Kenya played a pivotal role in securing unanimous UN agreement from all member states to establish two international AI governance institutions. Notably, Kenya built consensus across the Group of 77 (which includes a number of Pacific nations). 
 
These examples of multilateral cooperation on AI – especially driven by smaller countries – prove that nationalistic AI competition is not the only viable way forward to realise the benefits of AI. Indeed, collaborative approaches can help negotiate better regional investment opportunities, distribute ROI risks across smaller economies, and allow governments to learn from each other's successes and failures. 
 
For Australia, this model offers opportunities to support localised AI research, strengthen regional investment, and demonstrate leadership through genuine technological and policy cooperation in our shared efforts towards safe, responsible AI in the Pacific region.