Partner’s Perspective: Feeding AI and Navigating Accountability

A few weeks ago, curiosity led me to perform a simple search on an AI platform about Syarikat Ong and myself. The result was humbling: nothing. We did not exist in its world. After putting in the effort to get indexed by the appropriate search engine, I tried again a week later. This time, the precise information appeared. It was a stark reminder that AI reflects what we feed it, and how we act on its output defines its role in our lives.

This thought stayed with me as I listened to the discussions during the Tax and Digital Conference 2025. AI was a recurring theme throughout the event. One panellist boldly suggested that AI might be humanity’s last invention. While dramatic, it emphasised the extent to which AI is expected to shape every future innovation.

Where Does Responsibility Lie?

As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it raises critical questions about accountability. When AI makes a mistake, can we blame the technology, or does the responsibility ultimately rest on human decision-making? These concerns extend deeply into compliance, governance, and ethics. The reliance on AI does not diminish the need for human oversight. It amplifies it.

Ethics: The Foundation We Must Uphold

At its core, AI reflects the data and guidance it receives. Feeding it with integrity ensures its outputs align with our intentions, but neglecting this responsibility risks unintended consequences. As we rely more on AI, we must not lose sight of the judgement it still depends on — ours. Ethics, I believe, is the foundation we must never compromise, at all cost. It is the compass that ensures AI serves humanity, rather than the other way around.

A Moment to Reflect and Appreciate

While AI sparked many fascinating discussions, my own session centred on a more grounded yet equally critical topic: Compliance Optimisation & Strategies: A Legal & Tax Accounting Roundtable on Recent Tax Cases, Tax Audit and Investigation. Moderated by the thoughtful Mr. Bruce Leong, ACCA, C.A.(M) and enriched by the insights of my esteemed co-panellists Mr. Chris Toh Pei Roo 杜沛儒 and Mr. Abhilaash Subramaniam , we discussed the practical steps SMEs can take to navigate compliance challenges, prepare for audits, and mitigate risks. A key takeaway was the importance of empowering SMEs through education and preparation.

I would also like to express my gratitude to Mr. YEE Chee Mun 余志文 of Wezmart for his invaluable support, not only for inviting me as a panellist but also for sponsoring my E-Invoicing: Strategic Perspectives for SME Leaders in Malaysia books. His commitment to equipping SMEs with tools and insights is truly commendable. Thank you for creating such a platform for learning and collaboration.

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