PM launches ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 with Bold Vision for Inclusive AI and Regional Collaboration
KUALA LUMPUR, 12 AUGUST 2025 — Malaysia today launched the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 (AAIMS25), a regional gathering marking a major step in Southeast Asia’s digital journey. Held under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and hosted by the Ministry of Digital with support from the National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) and MyDIGITAL Corporation, the two-day summit convenes more than 1,500 participants from across ASEAN at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC).
Themed “Driving Sustainable & Inclusive AI Development in ASEAN”, the summit brings together ASEAN ministers, regional policymakers, global technology leaders, entrepreneurs, youth changemakers, researchers, and civil society groups to advance a shared vision for AI that empowers people, builds trust, and uplifts communities. The programme includes Ministerial Roundtables, dynamic panel discussions, dialogue- driven forums and interactive showcases, including the ASEAN AI Trade Show and the Malaysia AI Super Booth.
Malaysia’s Leadership on AI: A Vision for the Rakyat and the Region
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim reaffirmed Malaysia’s commitment to shaping AI in line with regional values of equity, justice, and dignity, positioning AI not merely as a technological tool, but as a transformative force for inclusive growth.
“Our vision must be to harness AI not simply to catch up with the rest of the world, but to lead it, offering a model of innovation grounded in trust, rooted in equity and proudly shaped by Southeast Asian values. In doing so, we will ensure that the true measure of AI’s success is not in the sophistication of its technology but in its ability to meaningfully uplift the lives of our rakyat in a way that is sustainable, inclusive and just,” said the Prime Minister.
Two weeks prior, the Prime Minister unveiled the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), Malaysia’s strategic blueprint for 2026-2030, which positions digital transformation as the engine of sustainable, inclusive national development. At its core lies the AI Nation Framework, a whole-of-nation strategy built on five pillars: forward-looking AI policy and regulation, talent cultivation, robust data and digital infrastructure, strengthened digital trust, and strategic investment. Anchored in the MADANI vision, the framework ensures AI drives economic growth, social progress, and public confidence, delivering meaningful impact for all Malaysians.
The Prime Minister also highlighted ILMU, Malaysia’s first fully homegrown large language model, developed by YTL AI Labs in partnership with Universiti Malaya. Built entirely by Malaysians, ILMU is trained with local expertise, cultural depth, and linguistic nuance, ensuring it resonates with and respects Malaysia’s diverse fabric. Designed to address real needs in education, healthcare, and public services, ILMU exemplifies how innovation can be rooted in identity and purpose.
In his opening speech, Minister of Digital YB Gobind Singh Deo said, “Malaysia is proud to host this landmark event, not simply as a showcase of technology, but as a commitment to a shared ASEAN vision: a future where AI strengthens our societies, creates opportunities for all, and reflects our collective values. Above all, we recognised a shared understanding: the challenges and opportunities of AI are too great for any one nation to navigate alone, but together, ASEAN can chart a path that reflects our values and aspirations.”
Upcoming Highlight: Launch of National Cloud Policy
A major highlight on Day 2 of the summit will be the official launch of the National Cloud Computing Policy (NCCP) by the Ministry of Digital, a milestone in Malaysia’s drive towards a sustainable, and secure digital ecosystem. Championing a Cloud-First future, the NCCP aims to fuel innovation, boost efficiency, and strengthen resilience across the nation’s digital economy. The launch takes place on 13 August 2025 at 8:30 AM at MITEC, Kuala Lumpur.
Advancing ASEAN Collaboration through Strategic Announcements
AAIMS25 also served as a launchpad for a series of high-impact announcements, each aimed at accelerating regional AI collaboration, strengthening talent pipelines, and fostering responsible, inclusive innovation across Southeast Asia.
The ASEAN Foundation, with support from Google, today launched AI Class ASEAN, a free learning platform to equip communities with the skills to thrive in the AI era. By training 800,000 local leaders across all ten ASEAN Member States, the programme will empower 5.5 million people, including 400,000 Malaysians, with practical AI literacy. The initiative emphasises ethical, inclusive and accessible engagement with AI, ensuring youth, educators and parents are ready for the opportunities of a rapidly digitalising world.
Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) introduced the AMD Developer Cloud to accelerate AI research and innovation in Malaysia. As part of the initiative, AMD is offering 100,000 GPU hours to Malaysian researchers and developers, providing access to its world-class CPUs, GPUs and open ROCm platform. This milestone will nurture local talent, drive breakthrough ideas, and enhance Malaysia’s position as a leader in AI.
MaiStorage, a subsidiary of Phison, is making AI affordable and accessible for all with its new AI computing-at-the-edge solution. Using aiDAPTIV+, Intel® Core® Ultra Processors, and Intel® ArcTM Graphics, the solution delivers AI power to laptops, PCs, and devices that schools, SMEs, and communities can use, without expensive servers or complex cloud systems. This innovation gives more Malaysians the tools to learn, create, and lead in the AI era.
Huawei Technologies launched the APAC AI Ecosystem Initiative, a three-year plan to make Malaysia a regional hub for AI excellence. The programme will train 30,000 AI talents and support 200 local partners in creating innovative solutions. By linking top AI companies with local innovators, Huawei aims to boost skills, open new opportunities, and accelerate AI adoption.
Strategic Collaboration at the Heart
AAIMS25 was made possible through the shared commitment of key collaborators. YTL Power served as Title Sponsor, Huawei as Innovation Partner, Inspur and VCI Global Limited as Platinum Partners, and TM as Strategic Partner. The organisers also acknowledged the contributions of other supporting partners whose expertise and resources helped shape the summit’s success. Together, these partnerships reflect a common conviction that ASEAN must lead in AI with values, not just velocity, ensuring that the region’s digital future is shaped by collaboration, trust, and a shared commitment to uplift all communities.