As with most new technological innovations, the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) can be a double-edged sword.

While industry giants continue to push the boundaries of what AI can do, others caution against moving too quickly without proper oversight, as development must be balanced with ethical considerations to ensure the technology benefits society without causing unintended harm.

In Malaysia, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) has been at the forefront of this effort, leading initiatives to cultivate skilled AI professionals while implementing guidelines to safeguard against potential pitfalls, thereby striving to create a sustainable and innovative AI ecosystem.

With AI development moving at a blistering speed, it is increasingly important for Malaysia to nurture a deep and diverse talent pool to capitalise on this growth or risk being left behind in the technological race.

MOSTI has been at the forefront of efforts to develop local AI talent through its National AI Roadmap 2021-2025, which outlines the strategies and key initiatives to develop Malaysia’s AI talent pool through training, research and industry collaboration.

The roadmap aims to spearhead the development of the country’s AI ecosystem by focusing efforts on 11 national AI use cases in five priority areas: agriculture and forestry, healthcare, smart cities and transport, education and public services.

More recently, MOSTI — in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education — launched the AI Talent Roadmap 2024-2033 to support Malaysia’s overarching AI strategy by formulating and developing AI curriculum and research programmes through the Malaysia Artificial Intelligence Consortium to ensure Malaysian graduates have the qualifications needed for AI careers.

The ministry has allocated funds for programmes to support AI research, education and training and recently launched two AI-related requests for proposals: one for the development of an AI-powered decision support system for key government agencies and the other for AI-based adaptive learning interventions to support personalised and flexible education.

In collaboration with graphics processing unit giant Nvidia Corp as a key technology partner, MOSTI and its agency, Malaysian Research Accelerator for Technology & Innovation (MRANTI), have also launched the national AI Sandbox pilot programme.

This initiative is designed to accelerate AI adoption in Malaysia by fostering 900 AI start-ups and developing over 13,000 AI talents by 2026. This will drive economic growth and ensure the workforce’s competitiveness and adaptability in the global AI landscape.

Part of the talent training under the AI Sandbox includes upskilling and reskilling programmes focused on AI-related skills, which aim to equip the local workforce with the necessary knowledge and expertise to harness AI’s potential effectively in their respective fields.

Given the inevitable growth of the local AI industry, MOSTI believes it is crucial to place ethics at the forefront to ensure responsible and beneficial AI development.

Developed collaboratively with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia and other stakeholders, the National Guideline on AI Governance and Ethics for Responsible AI (AIGE) aims to mitigate potential risks associated with AI technology while promoting its benefits.

These guidelines are designed to benefit three main stakeholders — the community, government agencies and policymakers, and the industry — adhering to seven responsible AI principles.

The AIGE guidelines were developed by benchmarking against AI guidelines of the UK, the US, China, Australia and Japan.

These principles aim to ensure transparency, privacy, security and trustworthiness in AI applications. They also foster an environment of ethical AI use that protects and benefits all sectors of society.

MOSTI says the AIGE represents a “soft approach” to promoting ethical AI practices in Malaysia, unlike a “hard approach” that involves mandated compliance through laws or legislation. Thus, it offers some flexibility to users and developers.

Given Malaysia’s position as a relatively new player in the global AI industry, the ministry believes a soft approach is the best way to encourage innovation.

Establishing and ensuring responsible AI practices will establish Malaysia as a leader in ethical and trustworthy AI development, which could attract foreign investors, boost public confidence and contribute to the country’s economic growth.

The AIGE guidelines are designed to be general and adaptable, allowing them to serve as a reference for developing specific AI governance and ethics frameworks tailored to various industries.

These guidelines are considered a “living document”, meaning they will be regularly updated to reflect technological advancements and innovations in AI, ensuring they remain relevant and effective over time.

Looking ahead, MOSTI emphasises the importance of developing a sustainable AI ecosystem that involves collaboration across various sectors, including industry, government and quadruple helix players.

It says the unique nature of AI technology, which can be applied across multiple sectors, necessitates combining resources such as financial funding, manpower and policymaking efforts.

This collaborative approach ensures a holistic development of the AI ecosystem, leveraging diverse expertise and resources to drive innovation and growth.