by AKMAR ANNUAR

MALAYSIA reinforces its leadership in regional technology policy by hosting the inaugural ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 (AAIMS25), unveiling a series of initiatives aimed at driving responsible artificial intelligence (AI) adoption across South-East Asia.

ASEAN secretary general Dr Kao Kim Hourn commended Malaysia for convening the first summit, noting that the ASEAN digital economy could reach US$1 trillion (RM4.24 trillion) by 2030 and potentially double if supported by a robust AI framework.

AI alone is projected to contribute between 10% and 18% of the region’s GDP by the end of the decade.

“We are witnessing the principle of artificial intelligence in reshaping every aspect of our economies, societies and daily lives. In this context, I commend Malaysia’s leadership in hosting the first-ever ASEAN AI summit,” he said at the launch on Aug 12.

He added that ASEAN had adopted the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics in 2024 and the expanded ASEAN Responsible AI Roadmap in January this year.

The next step will be the creation of the ASEAN AI Safety Network, led by Malaysia, to institutionalise safety, ethics and governance principles, with an informal launch targeted by early 2026.

“The inaugural ASEAN AI summit demonstrates that ASEAN can forge more pathways that make AI a driver of peace, prosperity and progress for the people in our evolving world,” he said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim described the gathering as a defining moment for the region, urging ASEAN to lead AI development through innovation grounded in trust, equity and South-East Asian values.

“Our vision must be to harness AI not simply to catch up with the rest of the world, but to lead it, offering a model of innovation grounded in trust, rooted in equity and proudly shaped by South-East Asian values,” he said.

Anwar highlighted the AI Nation Framework, a central pillar of the 13th Malaysia Plan (MP13), which is anchored on forward-looking policies, talent cultivation, secure digital infrastructure, digital trust and strategic investments.

He said the framework will ensure AI delivers meaningful impact for all Malaysians and strengthens public confidence in technology.

“This is Malaysia’s next great leap, from adoption to nationhood. And we will get there together, with unity, resolve and unshakable will,” he noted.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo shared that Malaysia’s mission was to translate AI ambitions into tangible, inclusive outcomes, with a focus on bridging the AI divide between communities with and without access to tools, skills and infrastructure.

“This summit embodies our shared conviction that AI must be inclusive, responsible and rooted in the diversity of our region,” he said.

He outlined measures to expand free AI literacy programmes nationwide, invest in local innovation ecosystems and make AI affordable for all citizens.

Efforts include scaling high-performance computing capacity and ensuring equitable access to infrastructure, while building green data centres to meet sustainability targets.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Malaysian has both the means and the capacity to engage with AI agents, guiding them to reflect our values, protect our rights and serve our shared interests,” he said.

The summit also served as a launchpad for major AI collaborations.

The ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google.org, launched AI Class ASEAN, a free learning platform to equip 800,000 community leaders — including 400,000 Malaysians — with AI knowledge, benefitting 5.5 million people through a train-the-trainer approach.

Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) announced a partnership with the National AI Office to provide 100,000 hours of free graphics processing unit (GPU) computing for local researchers and developers via the AMD Developer Cloud.

The initiative aims to accelerate innovation and strengthen Malaysia’s AI readiness.

MaiStorage Technology introduced affordable AI-powered devices for schools, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and communities, enabling on-device AI training without reliance on costly cloud services.

Additionally, Huawei Malaysia unveiled the APAC AI Ecosystem Initiative, a three-year programme to train 30,000 Malaysian AI talents and nurture 200 AI partners, linking top AI companies with local innovators.

The event also marked the launch of ILMU — Malaysia’s first multimodal large language model — developed by YTL AI Labs in collaboration with Universiti Malaya (UM).

Fully built in Malaysia, ILMU can process and generate text, voice and images, and is trained to understand local languages and dialects.

“ILMU showcases our ability to create world-class AI infrastructure while preserving our linguistic and cultural identity. This is more than just technology — it is a step toward empowering our people, our businesses and our nation in the digital era,” Gobind said.

YTL Power International Bhd MD Datuk Seri Yeoh Seok Hong said ILMU reflects Malaysia’s cultural and intellectual heritage, and can support applications in education, healthcare and public services.

Yeoh added that ILMU is not just a technological leap, but a national capability that can power smarter systems, drive productivity and create progress that includes everyone — government, businesses and most importantly, Malaysians.

The ILMU AI Accelerator Programme, launched with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), will offer RM5 million in API credits and Malaysia Digital Status benefits to eligible startups and SMEs using ILMU to develop AI solutions.

Early partners include Aco Tech Sdn Bhd, Carsome Sdn Bhd, Astro (M) Holdings Bhd, Media Prima Bhd and TrustAI.

AAIMS25 drew over 1,500 participants, featuring ministerial roundtables, panel discussions, policy forums and the ASEAN AI Trade Show.

The Digital Ministry said the event underscored ASEAN’s collective ambition to shape the AI era “responsibly, together and on our own terms”.