KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 24): Artificial intelligence (AI) was highlighted as the central aspect driving Malaysia’s future digital economy at the Malaysian Digital Xceleration Summit 2024 (MDX). The summit, which is taking place from Oct 24 to Oct 25, positioned Malaysia as an emerging leader in the digital economy and underscored the country's ambitions to become a regional technology hub.

MDX focused on five key objectives for next-generation technologies: data trust, next-gen computing, computer vision, the metaverse and digital twins. These areas are expected to shape the future of the country's digital transformation efforts.

During the event, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) CEO Anuar Fariz Fadzil said that the launch of the National AI office in December will spearhead AI policy development and promote AI innovation and research into next-generation technologies, reinforcing the technology’s role as a cornerstone of Malaysia’s digital economy.

“Technology serves as the foundation upon which we build our future and our nation's future. It's the end result that matters, not the tools themselves,” he said in his speech at the opening ceremony.

“Our goal is to create a high-income nation made possible through technology, encompassing all segments of society, regardless of age, religion, or race. By doing so, we aim to nurture a path for a prosperous, peaceful, and inclusive future for us and our families, and our children as well, the generations to come.”

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo contrasted the current landscape to the Industrial Revolution, and how a single innovation used to stretch across different time periods, but today, in functions in a matter of decades and months. 

Now, the focus will be on building a foundation to look ahead to crucial technology such as AI, which has unlocked innovative use cases from businesses to manufacturing to healthcare, the metaverse as a digital twin, computer vision to unlock new efficiencies in various sectors, and technologies that can enhance data privacy and cybersecurity. 

5G technology is also foundational, and Gobind said that as of September this year, Malaysia's 5G coverage has reached over 82% of populated areas and has recorded a staggering 17.3 million 5G service subscriptions, representing an adoption of 50.8%.

While advancements in technologies are moving at a rapid pace, the minister reminded that the country must not be complacent and to also question if the networks and industries are secure to support and build products for such an environment. 

“As we navigate the seas of change today, I think there's a need for us to seriously consider and think about how we can prepare for tomorrow's uncharted horizons. The question is, what new technology will define our collective future, and what will its implications be?” he asked.  

For instance, while the commercial readiness of quantum computing may be years away, there is a need to start the conversation about how new technologies will impact the nation.

“The critical question today for all of us is how we begin this conversation, and how we, the industry and government, will collaborate to make sure that we come up with the right framework so that this country is prepared for what is to come,” he said.