Be more than mere bystanders in AI revolution

Johor is positioning itself as a key player in Malaysia’s digital economy. — Filepic

OVER the past few years, artificial intelligence (AI) has gained a lot of attention, with some embracing it as a major leap forward while others see it as a bogeyman that is out to “eat” our jobs.

There is, of course, truth in both the opposing views.

In previous industrial revolutions, we have seen how such developments have disrupted the labour market and even created violent riots leading to deaths.

At the same time, these were also the periods in which we saw great advancements and innovations that have shaped the way we live our lives today.

Similarly, I believe this new wave of disruption brought on by AI will be uncomfortable for many, but will also open doors to new opportunities.

According to a Goldman Sachs study released in 2023, AI could in the next decade expose the equivalent of 300 million full-time jobs to automation, proving yet again the magnitude of its impact.

Admittedly, my knowledge and interest in AI kicked in a little too late. I only started exploring and trying to understand it last year.

I still have a lot of catching up to do, but I know I am not alone in this. I also have to admit that this has caused me a great deal of anxiety.

Whatever it is, one thing is for sure – there is no way for us to avoid it.

So we might as well jump on the bandwagon and adapt to it before it is too late.

Over the past few months, I have spoken to many people about AI, mainly asking how they are using it in their everyday lives and their general views about it.

As a journalist, I meet people of all social classes, from businessmen and politicians to cleaners and factory workers.

As such, the views I get for the AI questions vary significantly. One thing became painfully obvious to me – the impact of AI in widening the gap of inequality.

While we are seeing more and more people getting used to using AI in their daily lives, it is unfortunately still considered a luxury for many.

This, to me, is very concerning, especially when it comes to education and job opportunities for generations to come.

As the country moves towards emphasising AI, I hope the policymakers will take this into consideration.

Let us at least try to level the playing field for future job seekers and students, particularly in Johor, a state that has shown significant potential in this area, especially with the development of the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the booming data centre industry.

Johor is quickly positioning itself as a key player in Malaysia’s digital economy.

Global tech giants such as Microsoft and ByteDance have already begun investing in data centres here, drawn by Johor’s strategic location and infrastructure.

Just last year, AirTrunk announced a second hyperscale data centre in Iskandar Puteri, and YTL Power International partnered with NVIDIA to build one of the fastest supercomputers in the world in Johor.

These developments are exciting, but also highlight the urgency for digital inclusion.

It can be easy to overlook the impact of such progress on the people, especially those living in rural areas or from lower-income groups.

Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and his state executive councillors have repeatedly given their assurance that no one would be left behind. I hope they will continue to remember this.

Ensuring access to digital education, affordable connectivity and upskilling programmes will be critical in ensuring Johoreans from all walks of life are not just witnessing the AI revolution but actively participating in it.