MEMBERS of parliament from across the globe will convene in Kuala Lumpur later this month to confront a question that is fast becoming central to democratic governance: what role should legislators play in ensuring that artificial intelligence evolves responsibly?
The forthcoming conference, titled ‘The Role of Parliament in Shaping the Future of Responsible AI’, is a joint initiative by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA), the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the Malaysian Parliament.
It aims to scrutinise the accelerating challenges of AI governance and the responsibilities that now fall upon elected representatives.
Stephen Twigg, secretary-general of the CPA, said the rapid advancement of AI demands active engagement from parliaments, not passive observation.
“It’s crucial that parliamentarians aren’t left behind by the speed and breadth of technological innovation, and that AI isn’t a black box where MPs aren’t aware of its inner workings,” he said.
“Legislators should be able to embrace these new technologies and tools without ignoring their potential limitations and biases.”
Twigg cautioned that the consequences of AI are no longer theoretical. “We have passed beyond the point of any of this being hypothetical,” he noted.
AI, he said, can “serve as an extraordinary engine of growth and productivity”, yet simultaneously pose profound risks.
Deepfakes impersonating public figures threaten democratic processes; algorithmic tools can reinforce discrimination; and AI’s vast industrial potential could exacerbate inequality and undercut efforts to confront climate change.
The impact on politics is already visible. MPs around the world are using large language models to manage constituency casework, draft responses to parliamentary questions and conduct policy research.
Several governments have established AI ministries, some lawmakers have developed virtual avatars to communicate with the public, and certain elections have even featured AI-generated candidates.
Twigg argued that parliaments must take the lead by strengthening national readiness for AI, whether through institutional capacity-building, investment in skills or the development of governance frameworks.
By improving digital literacy, fostering research ecosystems and ensuring fair access to AI’s benefits, MPs can help guide societies through what is rapidly becoming a new technological era.
“As secretary-general of the CPA, I have seen firsthand how crucial cross-border collaboration is in shaping policy and learning from each other,” he said.
International cooperation, he added, is vital to prevent fragmented regulation and to harmonise standards. With delegates from more than 60 countries attending the Kuala Lumpur meeting, Twigg expressed hope that the conference will “serve to further inter-parliamentary cooperation.
While acknowledging AI’s potential to advance equality and inclusion, Twigg warned that it has also “visibly amplified existing discrimination”, citing deepfake abuse, online harassment and bias in hiring and content moderation systems.
“I am proud that at the CPA, we have pushed for the shared values of democracy, the rule of law and gender equality,” he said.
“I hope that through this AI Conference, parliamentarians will ensure that technological advances can be guided by these same principles.” - November 18, 2025
