The Vision for a National AI Center: Infrastructure, Talent, and Collaboration

It all started with a question. "Dr. Mazlan, do you think Malaysia needs a national AI center?"

At first, I paused. It was a question I had been grappling with for some time, but hearing it from others made me realize just how urgent the conversation had become. Artificial Intelligence (AI) isn’t just a buzzword anymore; it’s a transformative technology already reshaping industries worldwide. And if we don’t act now, we risk being left behind.

The first time I was asked this question, I remember sitting at a roundtable discussion with some of Malaysia's top tech leaders. I could feel the weight of the moment. This wasn't just an academic debate but a call to action.

"Yes," I replied firmly. "We need a national AI center."

But the follow-up questions came quickly. "What does it take to build such a center? How do we ensure its success? What infrastructure do we need? And what about talent? Can Malaysia really compete on a global stage?"

I found myself reflecting on my experience building Favoriot. There were striking similarities between the early challenges we faced with IoT and the new hurdles with AI. In both cases, it wasn’t just about the technology. It was about creating an ecosystem where innovation could thrive, talent could flourish, and industries could benefit.

Setting up a national AI center is the same. It’s about creating the right conditions for AI to impact meaningfully across sectors.

The Infrastructure Dilemma

Everyone seems to ask the first question: What kind of infrastructure does a national AI center need?

It’s a fair question I’ve spent much time pondering. From my experience with Favoriot, I learned that infrastructure is the foundation upon which everything else is built. Without the right systems, you’re doomed to fail before you even begin.

For AI, this means investing heavily in computational power. You can’t have AI without data, and you can’t process that data without high-performance computing. But it’s not just about raw computing power. We must consider the entire data pipeline—from storage and processing to analysis and action.

As I was explaining this to a colleague recently, I compared our early days at Favoriot. "Remember when we first started building our IoT platform?" I asked. "We underestimated how much data we’d need to handle, and we were constantly upgrading our servers. AI will be like that but on a much larger scale."

We’ll need data centers that can scale to handle current demand and future growth. The cloud will be a critical part of this, as will edge computing, particularly for real-time applications. And then there’s the question of connectivity. Malaysia’s digital infrastructure is improving, but there’s still work to be done. We’ll need 5G to ensure the high-speed, low-latency networks that AI applications depend on.

I remember thinking about the logistics of all this. "Where do we even start?" I asked myself. "How do we ensure the infrastructure we build today isn’t obsolete tomorrow?"

It’s a daunting challenge but not an insurmountable one. With the right partnerships—local telcos and international tech companies—we can build the infrastructure an AI center needs to thrive.

Talent: The Heart of AI

As crucial as infrastructure is, it’s not the only thing that matters. The next big question is talent.

"Do we have enough AI talent in Malaysia?" someone asked me recently.

I paused. "Not yet," I admitted. "But we can get there."

The truth is, talent is going to be the most critical factor in determining whether or not a national AI centre succeeds. We need data scientists, machine learning engineers, AI researchers, and a host of other specialists who understand the nuances of AI.

I’ve seen this firsthand at Favoriot. Finding people who understood IoT early on was challenging, and AI is no different. We’re not just competing with local companies for this talent; we’re competing globally. Countries like the US, China, and South Korea are pouring resources into developing their AI talent pools.

But here’s where I’m optimistic. Malaysia has a young, tech-savvy population. Our universities are producing brilliant engineers and data scientists.

What we need is to create pathways for them to specialize in AI.

I remember discussing this with a professor recently. "We need to embed AI into the curriculum at all levels of education," I said,?" from secondary schools to universities. AI can’t be a niche subject—it needs to be a core part of our education system."

But education alone isn’t enough.

We need to create opportunities for this talent to grow. That means internships, apprenticeships, and partnerships with the private sector. The National AI Center could act as a hub, connecting students and researchers with industry and giving them real-world problems to solve.

"Imagine a place," I told a colleague, "where students, startups, and multinational companies are all working together, learning from each other, and pushing the boundaries of what AI can do. That’s what the national AI center could be."

Collaboration: The Key to Success

This brings me to the next big question: how do we foster collaboration between different stakeholders?

This is where the real challenge lies. From my experience at Favoriot, I've learned that collaboration isn’t always easy. There are so many different interests at play—government, industry, academia—and getting everyone on the same page can be tough. But it’s essential.

Someone recently asked me, "Why do we need a national AI center?" "Why not let the private sector handle AI development?"

It’s a valid question and one that I’ve heard many times.

The answer lies in AI itself. AI isn’t just another technology; it’s a general-purpose technology that will impact every sector, from healthcare and education to finance and agriculture. No single entity can build an AI ecosystem on its own; it requires collaboration.

The National AI Center would be a place where different stakeholders come together. The government could set policies and regulations that ensure AI is developed and used ethically. Universities could focus on research and training. Startups could experiment with new AI applications, and large corporations could scale those innovations.

"Think about it," I told a friend recently. "If we can bring together the best minds from government, academia, and industry, we can create something truly special—a place where innovation happens at the intersection of different perspectives."

The Benefits for Industry and Startups

One of the most exciting aspects of setting up a national AI center is the potential benefits for industry and startups.

When I first started Favoriot, I envisioned how IoT could transform industries in Malaysia. And while it took time, we now see that vision come to life. AI is poised to have a similar, if not more significant, impact.

For established industries, the national AI center could provide a platform to experiment with new AI technologies without having to invest in the expensive infrastructure themselves. Imagine a manufacturing company collaborating with AI researchers to develop predictive maintenance algorithms or a healthcare provider working with data scientists to create personalized treatment plans using AI.

The possibilities are endless.

And for startups? The National AI Center could be a game-changer. Startups often have brilliant ideas but need more resources to bring those ideas to life. The AI center could provide them with the computational power, data, and expertise they need to scale their innovations.

I’ve seen how difficult it can be for startups to break into traditionally slow industries to adopt new technologies. However, with the support of a national AI center, those barriers could be lowered. Startups could test their ideas, get feedback from industry leaders, and scale their solutions faster.

I remember talking to a startup founder recently who was working on an AI-powered solution for agriculture. "We have the technology," he told me, "but we need access to data and the right partners to scale."

That’s where the National AI Centre comes in. It would act as a bridge, connecting startups with the data, infrastructure, and partnerships they need to succeed.

A Vision for the Future

As I sit here, reflecting on these conversations, I can’t help but feel a sense of urgency. The world is moving quickly, and AI will be at the heart of that change. Malaysia has the potential to lead, but only if we act now.

"Can we do this?" I asked myself one evening as I sketched out ideas for the center. The answer is yes. However, it will require a concerted effort from government, industry, academia, and startups.

Setting up a national AI center is a bold vision, but it can transform Malaysia into a leader in AI innovation. With the proper infrastructure, talent, and collaborations, we can create an AI ecosystem that benefits everyone—industries, startups, and the nation.

When we look back in a few years, I believe we’ll see that this wasn’t just about building a center. It was about building Malaysia's future.