Conference Chairman Speech : ASEAN CONFERENCE : The Family Institution In Light of Rapidly Changing Technology and AI-Driven World ; Impact on Character, Moral and Values.
Salutations!
On behalf of ACCIN and our collaborating organizations, we welcome you to the ASEAN Conference: The Family Institution in Light of a Rapidly Changing Technology and AI-driven World: Impact on Character, Moral and Values.
Our heartiest thanks to the Hon Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living, YB Senator Datuk Dr. Fuziah binti Salleh for gracing this occasion. At the same time, giving us the encouragement and support to do better for society. Next year, InsyaAllah, ACCIN plans to organise a bigger regional event on this subject at the ASEAN /Pacific level with several ministries.
To all the international delegates we greet you with “Selamat Datang” which means welcome. Welcome to sunny Malaysia. Hope your experience these few days will be a great one.
Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh, and a very good morning.
Today, we gather to discuss an issue that is reshaping not only our society, but the very foundation of human life itself — the family. As we move rapidly into an AI-driven world, filled with smart devices, powerful algorithms, and digital companions, our families face challenges unlike anything we have seen before.
Technology brings many benefits. It improves our work, our learning, and even our daily tasks at home. But at the same time, it quietly reshapes our behaviour, our relationships, and most importantly, our character, morals, and values. If we are not careful, we may gain efficiency but lose our humanity.
1. Declining Human Interaction and Emotional Bonding
In many homes today, family members sit together physically but live in separate digital worlds. Children speak more to their devices than to their parents. AI assistants answer questions instantly, but they do not build empathy, patience, or compassion.
If emotional connection weakens, then the values that hold families together — love, respect, and responsibility — begin to fade.
2. Parents Struggling to Keep Up
Technology evolves faster than parents can monitor. Social media, virtual realities, AI-generated videos, and personalized algorithms expose our children to a world with blurred boundaries between truth and falsehood.
When children treat AI as the “smarter authority,” the influence of parents becomes weaker. Guidance becomes harder. And moral confusion becomes easier.
3. Algorithm-Driven Values
Today, many young people learn values not from home, but from influencers, trends, and AI-curated content. What is popular becomes what is accepted. What is viral becomes what is “normal.”
But not everything that trends is morally correct.
Not everything that is entertaining is beneficial.
When values are shaped by algorithms, character becomes unstable.
4. Weakening of Critical Thinking and Moral Reasoning
AI gives answers instantly. It predicts our needs. It completes our tasks. But it cannot teach us the value of struggle, effort, or perseverance.
When everything becomes automated, we risk raising a generation that is intelligent, but not wise; connected but not grounded; knowledgeable but lacking judgment.
5. Identity Confusion in a Digital Age
Our children grow up comparing themselves to filtered images and digital perfection. Their self-worth becomes tied to likes, shares, and online validation.
This weakens confidence, disrupts moral identity, and creates conflict between the values taught at home and the values rewarded online.
6. Erosion of Cultural, Religious, and Traditional Values
Global content flows into our homes every day. Without guidance, our young people may feel more connected to global trends than to their own culture and family traditions. Respect for elders, modesty, community spirit — all these can disappear beneath the noise of the digital world.
7. Ethical Ambiguity and Overdependence on AI
As AI becomes more involved in decisions — what to buy, what to watch, even who to befriend — we risk losing our sense of accountability.
When we allow machines to guide our choices, we outsource not only our thinking, but our morality.
8. Family Stress and Work-Life Imbalance
AI has made workplaces faster and more demanding. Messages come at all hours. Work follows us home. Parents have less time and energy to nurture their families. As a result, emotional guidance is replaced by digital entertainment, and family conversations by screen time.
So, What Must We Do?
Ladies and gentlemen,
Technology is not our enemy. But we must guide it — or it will guide us.
1.Strengthen family communication. Talk more at home. Listen more. Connect more.
2.Practice conscious digital parenting. Set boundaries, understand the platforms, and guide children with compassion.
3.Instill values consistently. Teach honesty, empathy, discipline, resilience, and responsibility — values no machine can replace.
4.Balance digital life with real life. Encourage outdoor activities, family meals, and meaningful conversations.
5. Promote cultural and religious grounding. Our traditions and
teachings must anchor us in a turbulent digital age.
Conclusion
The AI era will continue to evolve. New technologies will emerge. But one thing must remain strong — the family institution, the first school of character, the first source of love, and the first defender of moral values.
Let us ensure that in this modern world, we do not raise children who are digitally connected but emotionally disconnected; knowledgeable but unprincipled; intelligent but without wisdom. ACCIN applauds the decision of the Australian govt beginning on 9th Dec 2025 to ban access to social media until the age of 16. Many countries including Malaysia are mulling to follow suit.
May we guide our families with strength, compassion, and clarity — so that technology serves humanity, not replaces it.
Last but not least, we thank all our collaborators, panelists and participants for making this event a resounding success.
Thank you.
Wassalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.
Hj Ir Mohd Jamaludin Shamsudin
Conference Chairman & ACCIN CEO
13th Dec 2025
Kuala Lumpur
