Sovereign AI, Cyber Resilience, and Taiwan's Digital Future

Taiwan sits at the heart of the global AI and advanced computing supply chain and is home to world-leading companies such as ASUS, TSMC, and UMC. At the same time, it is on the front lines of the PRC's relentless cyber and information campaigns, with some days launching as many as 2.4 million attacks. How Taiwan harnesses the governance of artificial intelligence while protecting its critical infrastructure offers a glimpse into the challenges that every open society will soon face. Today we're joined by Isabel Hou, Political Deputy Minister at Taiwan's Ministry of Digital Affairs, and one of the principal architects of Taiwan’s AI governance framework.

Deputy Minister Hou has spent roughly 25 years working at the intersection of technology and law. She assumed her current role in September 2025, and played a crucial role in passing the AI Basic Act — the framework law that now defines how the island classifies and manages AI risk.  

Taiwan Frontlines is a podcast created in partnership with NowNews, Taiwan's first, largest, and most timely online native news website. 

Timestamps:  
[00:00] Introduction
[01:45] Influencing the Taiwan Basic Act and What’s Still Missing
[07:05] Sovereign AI as a Capability
[12:02] Taiwan’s Role in Developing an Open AI Ecosystem
[15:33] Countering Cyber Intrusion Attempts into Taiwan’s Infrastructure
[20:50] Limitations of AI Regulation
[26:15] Taiwan’s AI Regulation Lessons for the US and Europe
[30:09] Silicon Shield: Still Relevant?
[34:28] Pax Silica Summit