On Thursday (12 December), Malaysia inaugurated a “National AI Office” or NAIO under the Digital Ministry, which will focus on policy formation and regulatory issues, marking a step towards becoming a regional AI development hub.
Over the past year, Malaysia has drawn billions in investments from global tech giants like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Nvidia, all seeking to build vital infrastructure to meet the growing demand for cloud and AI services.
NAIO will act as a centralised body for AI, tasked with strategic planning, research and development, and regulatory oversight, among other responsibilities.
In its inaugural year, the office aims to achieve seven key objectives:
This includes developing a code of ethics, an AI regulatory framework and a five-year AI technology action plan from 2026 until 2030.