Nine in 10 workers may feel unprepared for AI as PEOPLElogy launches National AI Readiness Week to get 5 million Malaysians ready by 2030

Malaysia's AI ambitions face a significant challenge: the nation lacks over 500,000 skilled AI workers, a gap that threatens to jeopardize the RM50 billion economic potential the AI sector could unlock by 2030. Surveys indicate that nearly nine in ten Malaysian employees feel unprepared to collaborate with AI, which could prevent a significant portion of the projected economic gains from being realized.

The skills gap highlights a critical disparity between traditional education and the advanced digital skills required by modern industries.

In response, PEOPLElogy Bhd, Southeast Asia's first publicly listed digital workforce transformation company, has launched National AI Readiness Week 2026 (NAIRW 2026), a five-day event from November 12 to 18 in the Klang Valley. This initiative is part of the "I’m AI Ready" movement, a national 36-month campaign launched on June 19 with the goal of getting 5 million Malaysians to declare their AI readiness by 2030.

NAIRW 2026 aims to bridge the gap by promoting large-scale public engagement and verified AI readiness assessments.

"People are launching National AI Readiness Week right now because the AI industry stands at a critical crossroads: while the immense economic potential of artificial intelligence is scaling rapidly, our workforce faces a widening gap between passive awareness and actual capability," stated PEOPLElogy founder and managing director Allen Lee.

"Our success is clear — we are driving toward 5 million public AI readiness declarations by 2030, ensuring that through verified assessments, active mastery scholarships, and unified commitments from boardrooms and businesses, the digital economy grows with no one left behind."

The movement has gained traction, with over 9,100 Malaysians declaring AI readiness by the end of September, surpassing the target of 50,000 by the end of 2026. More than 800 delegates have registered for NAIRW 2026, and the Asia AI Excellence Awards have received more than 200 nominations. The week will consist of three distinct audiences: the I’m AI READY Summit targeting SMEs, entrepreneurs, students, and the wider workforce, the Build a Future Team (BAFT) Leaders Conference focusing on corporate, HR, and government leaders, and closing with the Asia AI Excellence Awards recognizing organizations driving measurable AI impact. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo will preside over the award ceremony.

The initiative is backed by RM3 million in AI Mastery Scholarships and a nationwide contest offering an iPhone 18 Pro Max (512GB) as the daily prize during the I’m AI READY Summit (November 12 to 14). Entrants must complete the "Find Out Your AI Personality" quiz, the same assessment required for an official AI-readiness declaration, before registering for NAIRW 2026.

The movement operates in collaboration with MyDIGITAL Corporation, aligned with the government's digital economy agenda and efforts to strengthen Malaysia's AI-ready talent pipeline. NAIRW 2026 is the first edition of the movement, with a second edition planned for the second quarter of 2027 as part of PEOPLElogy's commitment to reach the 5 million AI readiness goal.