Malaysia seru AI beretika agar negara membangun raih manfaat, kata PM

Perdana Menteri Anwar Ibrahim has urged an ethical approach towards artificial intelligence (AI) and an open, rule-based digital trade regime to ensure that nations can both benefit from and contribute to technological advancements. Speaking at the closing session of the Global Digital Trade Expo Fifth (GDTE), he acknowledged China's advancements in visual computing and AI, and its willingness to share technological progress with the Global South.

"China's leadership and readiness to continue delivering meaning and substance to globalization are truly extraordinary," he said.

During the five-day Expo in Hangzhou's Convention and Exhibition Center, Prime Minister Li Qiang and Anwar emphasized the importance of economic digital platforms, highlighting China's focus on AI and global cooperation. Malaysia's AI goal is clear: to boost productivity, aid small businesses in competing, and usher industries towards high-value activities while ensuring that Malaysians gain benefits from technological change, rather than merely experiencing its impacts.

Anwar stressed that the principle remains the same, whether humans control AI or AI controls us, calling for the establishment of an ethical framework to ensure that innovation and technological progress benefit humanity. He highlighted the issue as fundamental, addressing the digital divide, especially as nations pursue rapid technological advancement in the face of persistent socio-economic inequalities.

"Rapid AI growth, for example, may be an aspiration for many nations, but what genuine benefits will humans gain if such development only widens the gap between wealthy and developing countries, advanced and developing economies?" he asked.

He emphasized that the concern is not unfounded or exaggerated, but rather a deep-rooted worry about the well-being of communities, nations, and regions. The question is whether this technology will give the nation more space to determine its own future or leave them dependent on technology developed elsewhere. Anwar noted that real economic progress cannot be achieved in isolation, and technological development cannot sustain without considering the technology gap.

His three-day visit to Shanghai and Hangzhou concluded today, with China remaining Malaysia's largest trading partner for the 17th consecutive year, with two-way trade reaching USD113.82 billion (RM456.68 billion) from January to August of this year.