Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Manet has urged students and the wider public to learn how to use Artificial Intelligence effectively while warning against excessive reliance on AI for learning, analysis and decision-making.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony of more than 2,000 students of Asia Euro University in Phnom Penh on October 2, 2026, Hun Manet described AI as an increasingly important component of the global economy and a powerful tool for improving the quality and efficiency of work.
However, he stressed that AI should remain a supporting tool for human thinking rather than a replacement for human judgment.
AI Can Improve Work Efficiency
The Prime Minister said people who know how to use AI effectively may be able to complete certain tasks more efficiently than those who do not use the technology.
He highlighted several areas where AI can provide practical support, including:
Information searching
Data management
Analysis
Decision-making support
Improving work efficiency
The comments reflect the growing role of AI across education, business and professional activities.
However, Hun Manet emphasised that using AI effectively does not mean allowing AI to take complete responsibility for decisions.
“Knowing how to use AI is better, but do not rely on it for decision.”
His message was that AI literacy should be accompanied by human responsibility and judgment.
Prime Minister Warns Against Excessive AI Dependence
PM Hun Manet specifically cautioned against relying too heavily on AI.
He explained that AI systems depend heavily on the quality of the data provided to them. If the underlying information is inaccurate or incomplete, the resulting output may also be unreliable.
The Prime Minister therefore encouraged users to assess AI-generated information rather than automatically accepting it as correct.
He also warned against allowing AI systems to make decisions entirely on behalf of people.
Human Judgment Remains Important
According to Hun Manet, human decision-making involves a wide range of factors that may not always be fully captured by an AI system.
These include culture, emotions, sentiment and specific circumstances.
He argued that these dimensions are important when people make decisions and therefore AI should not automatically replace human judgment.
“Do not rely on AI too heavily. AI depends on data; if that data is inaccurate, the results will be flawed.”
The Prime Minister reiterated that technological capability does not make a machine equivalent to human decision-making.
Schools Should Avoid Complete Dependence on AI
The Prime Minister also addressed the growing use of AI in education.
He stressed that schools and educational institutions should not allow students to become entirely dependent on AI for learning and training.
The concern is not simply whether students use AI, but whether they continue developing their own ability to understand information, analyse problems and make judgments.
This places greater importance on maintaining critical thinking and independent learning alongside AI skills.
AI Skills Are Becoming Increasingly Important
At the same time, Hun Manet did not discourage the use of AI.
Instead, his message was to develop the ability to use the technology effectively while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
For students and young professionals, this means AI can be used to support research, organise information, analyse data and improve productivity.
For businesses, AI can similarly support operational processes and decision-making, but responsibility for important decisions should remain with people.
What Responsible AI Use Could Mean for Businesses?
The Prime Minister's comments are also relevant to businesses adopting AI across their operations.
Companies increasingly use AI for activities such as information processing, customer services, content creation, data analysis and business research.
However, AI-generated outputs can contain errors when the information supplied to a system is incomplete, inaccurate or poorly structured.
A responsible approach therefore requires human review, particularly when AI output affects customers, employees, financial decisions or other important business matters.
AI can increase efficiency, but businesses still need people who understand the underlying information and can evaluate whether an AI-generated result is appropriate for a particular situation.
The Difference Between AI Assistance and AI Decision-Making
The distinction highlighted by Hun Manet can be viewed in two ways:
| AI as a Supporting Tool | AI as a Decision Maker |
|---|---|
| Helps search for information | Makes decisions without human review |
| Supports data analysis | Determines outcomes independently |
| Improves productivity | Replaces human judgment |
| Assists research and learning | Becomes the primary source of knowledge |
| Provides recommendations for human review | Decisions are accepted automatically |
The Prime Minister's message favours the first approach: use AI to strengthen human capabilities while keeping human responsibility at the centre of important decisions.
Angkor Times Analysis
The rapid adoption of AI is creating opportunities for Cambodia's students, businesses and workforce, but the value of the technology depends heavily on how it is used.
AI can help people process information faster and perform certain repetitive or analytical tasks more efficiently. But greater access to AI also increases the importance of skills such as critical thinking, verification, data literacy and professional judgment.
For education, the challenge is to ensure students learn how to use AI without allowing the technology to replace the underlying learning process.
For businesses, the challenge is similar. AI can support productivity and analysis, but companies still need employees capable of checking information, understanding context and taking responsibility for decisions.
The Prime Minister's message can therefore be summarised simply: AI skills are increasingly valuable, but AI should remain a tool under human oversight rather than a substitute for human judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Cambodia's Prime Minister say about AI?
Prime Minister Hun Manet said AI is becoming an important part of the global economy and can improve work quality and efficiency, but people should not rely on it excessively.
Does the Prime Minister oppose using AI?
No. His remarks encouraged people to learn how to use AI effectively while maintaining human responsibility, judgment and critical thinking.
Why did he warn against relying heavily on AI?
He said AI depends on data, meaning inaccurate or incomplete data can produce flawed results. He also stressed that human decisions involve factors such as culture, emotions and circumstances.
What did he say about AI in education?
He warned schools and educational institutions against allowing students to depend entirely on AI for learning and training.
How should businesses use AI?
AI can be used to support information gathering, data management, analysis and productivity, while important decisions should continue to involve appropriate human judgment and responsibility.
What is the Prime Minister's main message?
His central message was that people should know how to use AI but not depend on it, particularly when making important decisions.