NATIONAL ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE OFFICE TO DRIVE AI INTEGRATION, HELP BOOST DIGITAL ECONOMY - EXPERT

By Anas Abu Hassan and Engku Shariful Azni Engku Abdul Latif

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- The establishment of the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) will accelerate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) functions in strengthening the digital economy, said an expert.

The dean of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Faculty of AI, Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Naz’ri Mahrin, said he believes the NAIO can support the growth of AI startups and encourage foreign investments, contributing to a vibrant and dynamic digital ecosystem. He added that the office can enable big data analysis to identify economic trends, optimise resource allocation, and create data-driven policies that benefit businesses and citizens alike.

“It can also facilitate the deployment of AI-powered tools and platforms to streamline processes in public administration, reducing inefficiencies and enhancing service delivery,” he told Bernama.

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched the NAIO, which aims to position Malaysia as a regional leader in AI technology and applications, serving as the central authority to champion Malaysia’s AI agenda.

Mohd Naz’ri said by leveraging AI for digital transformation, the NAIO will play a pivotal role in achieving the nation’s aspiration to become a high income country. He noted that through targeted initiatives, the NAIO will enable the creation of high value jobs, foster innovation in key sectors such as healthcare, education, agriculture, and manufacturing, and facilitate the development of a robust AI talent pipeline.

“These efforts are critical to building a knowledge-based economy and ensuring inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

“The digital economy is a key driver of Malaysia's future, with an ambitious target to contribute 23 per cent to the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) by 2024. The NAIO is uniquely positioned to accelerate this goal by integrating AI into core digital economy strategies,” he added.

NAIO's strategic partnerships

The launch of the NAIO also saw the formalisation of six strategic collaborations aimed at accelerating AI innovation, driving industry adoption, and strengthening Malaysia's position as a regional leader in AI development. 

The partners include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Toshiba, Global AI Village, YTL, Microsoft, and Google.

Commenting on the collaboration AWS Country Manager for Malaysia, Pete Murray, noted that the partnership with NAIO exemplifies AWS’s three-pronged approach to fostering Malaysia’s digital economy - financial investment, nurturing local talent, and providing exclusive access to transformative technologies.

He sees NAIO as a key milestone in shaping Malaysia's digital future, advancing AI innovation, and fostering economic growth.

“We will continue to collaborate with our partners, customers, and government stakeholders in Malaysia to realize NAIO’s vision for AI-driven growth and innovation.

“With AWS’s most comprehensive range of AI and machine learning services, cloud infrastructure, and expertise, we are committed to empowering local organizations, government agencies, and communities to harness the power of AI to address specific challenges and scale in a secure, resilient, and sustainable manner,” he said.

-- BERNAMA