Muslims not concerned enough about AI challenges, Anwar says

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has expressed concern that Muslims, including scholars, are not paying enough attention to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI), particularly as leading figures behind the technology warn of potential societal impacts. During a speech at Markaz Saquafathi Sunniya, Anwar highlighted Muslim scholars' lack of concern and urged Muslim societies not to ignore AI, digital transformation, and other emerging technologies.

He warned that failing to understand these advancements could leave societies dependent on those who control the knowledge, making them vulnerable to foreign influence and potential manipulation. Anwar emphasized the importance of embracing technology without abandoning religious and moral values, stressing that Muslims require technological expertise alongside a strong grounding in faith and ethics.

He also proposed an Asia forum to explore how societies could leverage AI while maintaining their values and faith, promising to support the plan with his colleagues. Anthropic, a US-based AI firm, recently released a report detailing how the company's AI system, Claude, was used for surveillance and propaganda by bad actors, and to disrupt a commercial election manipulation platform that targeted Malaysians.

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission is currently reviewing the report. At the event, Anwar received the inaugural Excellence Award from the Sheikh Abubacker Foundation, becoming the first recipient, and solidifying the strong relationship between Anwar and Sheikh Abu Bakar. In 2023, Malaysia also honored Sheikh Abu Bakar with the International Tokoh Ma'al Hijrah Award, its highest recognition for influential Muslim scholars.