Malaysia Partners with Google to Bring AI to 445,000 Civil Servants

Malaysia is set to receive AI tools from Google, deploying them across its public sector to improve efficiency and modernize services, Nikkei Asia reports.

The program, spearheaded by the Digital Ministry's National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO), will use AI-powered tools from Google Cloud to enhance government operations.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo described the "AI at Work for Public Services 2.0" initiative as a significant step in integrating generative AI within the Malaysian public sector. The collaboration will see the deployment of generative AI capabilities within MyGovUC, a centralized communication and collaboration service used by 25 ministries, three state secretariats, and 200 government agencies.

Civil servants will gain access to advanced AI tools such as Gemini, which will assist them in tasks like drafting policy papers, analyzing data, streamlining workflows, and engaging with citizens more effectively. The minister expects this to ultimately save time and improve service quality.

"Civil servants are the backbone of this transformation. Their dedication and ability to adapt will be the key factors in ensuring the success of this initiative," Gobind added.

The Malaysian government anticipates significant productivity gains from the AI rollout, referencing a 2024 Forrester Research survey on the economic impact of Google Workspace. This survey showed that technology and manufacturing companies that have integrated AI into their workplaces have experienced a 30% increase in internal collaboration, a 336% three-year return on investment, and 105 minutes saved per week per employee.

Sam Majid, NAIO's chief executive, emphasized the importance of timeliness for developing nations like Malaysia in advancing AI innovation across various sectors, including agriculture. He highlighted the recent launch of NAIO Lab, a collaborative project with the US-based Hive Global AI Fund and 500 Global, which aims to train 450 highly skilled AI engineers over the next three to five years.

The initiative will begin with a pilot project in the east coast state of Terengganu, focusing on rice farmers and integrating AI-driven solutions such as an e-marketplace, farming input recommendations, and credit scoring. The NAIO Lab is expected to expand to healthcare and transportation later this year.

Malaysia is developing its AI Technology Action Plan 2026-2030, which prioritizes AI adoption in key sectors, talent development, and collaboration between the government, industry, and academia. The Digital Ministry is expected to release AI adoption guidelines for the public sector by the end of February, providing recommendations for civil servants on AI development and deployment.