Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim issued a warning, urging citizens not to fall behind in adopting artificial intelligence (AI).
An e-learning course, ‘AI For The People,’ launched in collaboration with Intel, aims to upskill workers facing potential job losses due to the increasing dominance of machine learning.
Despite estimates by the Khazanah Research Institute that half of current jobs in Malaysia are at risk of automation by 2040, Anwar’s administration emphasizes the potential for the country to generate a significant portion of its GDP, approximately US$113.4 billion, through embracing generative AI.
The initiative aligns with Anwar’s broader strategy to shift the economy away from reliance on diminishing oil reserves. The free online course, presented in multiple languages, including Malay, English, Mandarin, and Tamil, serves as an introductory step to AI and aims to position Malaysia as a leader in cloud computing and machine learning.
The course is part of a broader digitalization push by the government, with recent partnerships and investments signaling a commitment to fostering a future-proof digital economy.