Artificial intelligence (AI) has come a long way since its beginnings in the 1950s. Thanks to enhancements in computing power and storage, increasing amount of data available, and advances in algorithms, the technology has been developing rapidly in recent times.
Many of us might associate it to the likes of ChatGPT or generative AI – a type of AI capable of generating content based on different kinds of inputs or prompts such as texts, images, sounds, etc. – that while still remains mostly experimental, has the potential of changing the way we live, work and play.
Yet, unconsciously or not, we have used AI applications in our everyday lives. Through our smartphones, for instance, we might have asked digital assistants like Siri about the weather, or referred to navigation apps like Waze for driving directions.
AI has also worked behind the scenes in providing personalised experiences to users on social media platforms including Facebook, YouTube and TikTok; search engines such as Google and Microsoft Bing; and e-commerce websites namely Amazon, Lazada and Shopee.
As the technology continues to evolve to enable greater efficiency, effectiveness and productivity, its implementation can be seen in organisations across most economic sectors – i.e. healthcare, transport, manufacturing, agriculture, banking, retail, government administration and services, and countless more.
Needless to say, it is viewed by many countries around the world as a key driver in their digital transformation and technology adoption.
Malaysia, for example, launched the National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025 in 2021 with the primary aim of creating “a thriving and sustainable AI innovation ecosystem that will make Malaysia a high-technology and high-income nation” through the technology.
Furthermore, a 2023 report by MyDigital Corporation and the Malaysia Centre for Fourth Industrial Revolution suggests that, with the right policy environment for AI adoption and a well-prepared workforce, generative AI can possibly unlock an estimated USD113.4 billion in productive capacity, which is equivalent to a quarter of Malaysia’s 2022 gross domestic product.
Meanwhile, Sarawak is prioritising the adoption of emerging technologies including AI to accelerate the State’s economic growth through the Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030.
The fourth strategic pillar – “Frontier Technologies Adoption” – features catalysing AI opportunities in public and private sectors as one of its strategic actions. Initiatives under this strategic action per the blueprint are:
- AI-driven Forensic Timber Identification and Forest Protection that can protect Sarawak’s forest and generate revenue from timber identification;
- The development of an AI Adoption Plan and the exploration of opportunities in public and private sectors to adopt and carry out AI and machine learning solutions to achieve more efficient, cost-effective and reliable services; and
- The development of 3D Cave Modelling for totally protected areas in Sarawak, including LIDAR-based mapping of the cave structure, cave survey, data analysis and modelling.
What is AI – the Malaysian Context
The National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025 defines AI as:
“…a suite of technologies that enable machines to demonstrate intelligence, the ability to adapt with new circumstances, and used to amplify human ingenuity and intellectual capabilities through collective intelligence across a broad range of challenges.”
Examples of these collective intelligence include perception, reasoning, learning, problem solving, language understanding, comprehension, consciousness, alertness, realisation, awareness, intuition, acumen, and many more.
To date, the main subdivisions of AI are vision, speech, robotics including software robots, machine learning, and natural language processing.
Source: Malaysia National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025 (AI-RMAP)
References:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): What it is and why it matters. (n.d.).SAS. https://www.sas.com/en_my/insights/analytics/what-is-artificial-intelligence.html
Generative AI – What is it and How Does it Work? (n.d.). NVIDIA. https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/glossary/data-science/generative-ai/
Laskowski, N., & Tucci, L. (2023, November 13). artificial intelligence (AI). Enterprise AI. https://www.techtarget.com/searchenterpriseai/definition/AI-Artificial-Intelligence
Maheshwari, R. (2023, April 3). What is artificial intelligence (AI) and how does it work? Forbes Advisor INDIA. https://www.forbes.com/advisor/in/business/software/what-is-ai/
Malaysia National Artificial Intelligence Roadmap 2021-2025 (AI-RMAP). (2021). Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation. https://airmap.my/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/AIR-Map-Playbook-final-s.pdf
Paul, K. (2023, November 10). Generative AI still mostly experimental, say executives. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/technology/reuters-next-generative-ai-still-mostly-experimental-say-executives-2023-11-09/
Sarawak Digital Economy Blueprint 2030. (2023). Economic Planning Unit Sarawak, Department of the Premier of Sarawak & Sarawak Multimedia Authority. https://www.sma.gov.my/upload/file_folder/Publication/SDE-Blueprint-2030-Book.pdf
The Economic Impact of Generative AI: The future of work in Malaysia. (2023, September 12). Access Partnership. https://accesspartnership.com/the-economic-impact-of-generative-ai-the-future-of-work-in-malaysia/
What is AI? (2023, April 24). McKinsey & Company. https://www.mckinsey.com/featured-insights/mckinsey-explainers/what-is-ai What is artificial intelligence and how is it used? (2020, April 9). European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/headlines/society/20200827STO85804/what-is-artificial-intelligence-and-how-is-it-used
