PETALING JAYA: The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) systems learning human behaviour and language is not a threat to the Malaysian workforce but an opportunity for a new class of jobs to “train” AI.
National AI Office (Naio) head Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid said AI is not replacing humans; instead, humans are guiding and driving this transition to ensure AI serves society.
“These roles aren’t always listed as ‘AI trainer’. They often appear as data annotators, labellers, evaluators, content reviewers or language specialists. But together, they signal a growing demand for AI training and evaluation across sectors,” he said when contacted.
He said more Malaysians are taking up roles such as trainers, talent developers, subject matter experts and ethical guardians.
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“All of them help equip the workforce with the skills to master AI while keeping our Malaysian language, values and culture at the heart of digital transformation,” he added.
He cited a shift in the three pillars in the AI training field as reasons why more Malaysians are stepping into AI trainer roles.
“First, it’s the dignity of work in the AI era, where Malaysians are hired for their capacity, culture and critical thinking, not just output,” he noted.
“Second, it’s the invisible workforce, where people bridge the gap between machines and public services to ensure AI is fair and effective.
“Third, it’s about future-proofing. By building this talent pool, Malaysia keeps stewardship of its AI agenda in Malaysian hands.”
He said AI is merely a system that learns from human diversity.
“As Malaysians contribute data to AI, they are contributing language, values, culture and the way we converse. Without us, our AI systems would feel alien even to Malaysians,” he pointed out.
He said this move will help prepare the workforce with the skills needed for the nation to transition to an AI-driven economy.
“People in this workforce are more exposed to AI tools and become better at handling data, critical thinking, evaluation and quality control to help the country with information.
“Although AI trainer jobs are booming, the scale is often undercounted because a large number of Malaysians contribute through freelance platforms that are not fully captured in official statistics,” he added.
Despite the benefits of AI, Shamsul Izhan cautioned that it can also be inaccurate at times.
“Sometimes the data is flawed and the model itself makes mistakes. Human oversight at the output stage is critical to filter errors and ensure quality,” he said.
