We all gave our introductions and I discussed how coding has changed in the age of AI, with a much stronger emphasis on assessing the learning and focusing on process rather than results. I shared that replit doesn’t just have suitable code for questions, but had my actual answers! It forced me to rethink how we assess coding and how to ensure students see the value in the learning itself rather than just results. Admittedly many curricula are now turning back to examinations rather than coursework and this is a short term view. We hope in the long term, that assessment will change to encourage resilience and responsibility with relevant content.
After our introductions we opened up the floor to questions and the digital divide came up and we were asked directly if AI is a colonial tool of the western world.
These are challenging questions, but perspective is everything. With regard to the digital divide, the Malaysian government has worked hard to give all teachers an effective tool with its Delima tool. Internet access is good in Malaysia and as satellite connecions become more affordable even the most remote regions can have access and governments are working hard to make compute time (GPT access) accessible to all. Yes, its a continued effort and reaching out to teachers is a challenge.
Yes, 50% of the material is AI is in English but think how many people can read in English as a second or foreign language. It is by far the most accessible language in the world with 1.5 billion English speakers world wide. We should not forget that many people write in English, because it will reach a bigger audience and it is not just the West writing in English. It is up to speakers of other languages to contribute the materials to more localised AIs to ensure that those languages remain competitive. AI LLMs also makes translation much better than previous translations tools and this in itself makes knowledge more accessible.
Bahasa Malaysia is certainly getting more AI materials and text to speech is improving with a number of projects to make this so. It helps also that there is now serious computing power available to ASEAN in Malaysia and just before our panel, Dr Charlie Foo (Nvidia) was saying how they will be supporting the region and AMD were nearby to show their data centre solutions.
Hindsight being 20:20, I should have mentioned how Gemini is reducing the divide and they can read all about it in my book! Oh well, next time!
National AI Framework
The ASEAN AI Conference has shown that Malaysia is taking decisive steps to position itself as a global leader in artificial intelligence, with the goal of becoming an AI Nation by 2030. Under the National AI Development Framework, the country aims to create an inclusive and sustainable AI ecosystem that benefits society, industry, and government. This vision is supported by comprehensive national strategies, including the Malaysia National AI Action Plan, Digital Economy Blueprint, and Industry 4.0 policy, alongside clear ethical guidelines on AI governance. Investments are being channelled into AI-ready infrastructure such as digital hubs and cybercentres, while academia–industry partnerships and accelerator programmes are driving innovation and commercialisation.
The framework is built around nine pillars, from government support and robust tech infrastructure to talent development, industry collaboration, and international engagement. It focuses on producing high-value products, creating skilled jobs, enhancing competitiveness, and ensuring strong governance through digital trust, data analytics, and accountability. Malaysia also aims to use AI to deliver meaningful improvements in citizens’ quality of life, from better public services to sustainable economic opportunities, while empowering industry to compete globally and enabling government to deliver seamless, high-quality, AI-powered services. You can read more at: https://linktr.ee/MY_Towards_AI_Nation
Robot dogs are everyone’s friend!
Celcomdigi showed that they have a knack for vibe coding with a super hero generator, but the absolute star of the show was a robot dog! It was amazing to watch in real life!
