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Showing posts with label Computer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Computer. Show all posts

Monday, August 25, 2025

AI and job transformation in Malaysia: What's next?

 

Experts share that the impact of AI may be more nuanced than just simply replacing people at work. — This visual is human-created, AI-aided

In a discussion on an online forum, a freelance translator in Malaysia believes that he has fewer job opportunities now due to clients turning to AI.

Another individual in the same discussion claims that he was laid off due to his stance against using AI tools in the company.

In a separate conversation, a designer questioned whether he should resign as a sign of protest against his company’s increasing reliance on AI to generate content. Meanwhile, another user who handles accounting tasks at work says AI is taking over his role after the company adopted a new AI-powered processing system. He claims that the system has led to some colleagues being laid off and those who remain will be required to verify the work performed by AI.

In the comments section, other users have advised him to look for a new job elsewhere as he risks being replaced completely, or start showing more productivity in other aspects of his current work that cannot be done by AI.

These conversations found online reflect a growing concern among Malaysian workers as AI tools become a part of work.

Staying ahead

According to an Ipsos AI Monitor 2025 survey involving 500 Malaysian adults, 63% fear AI’s potential to replace their ­current job within the next three to five years.

“The fear of being replaced by AI is very real, and it’s completely valid,” says Edvance CEO Razin Rozman.

Fahad encourages employees to experiment with various generative AI tools to discover how they can boost productivity at work. — Randstad MalaysiaFahad encourages employees to experiment with various generative AI tools to discover how they can boost productivity at work. — Randstad Malaysia

Randstad Malaysia country director Fahad Naeem says findings from his company’s Malaysia Employer Brand research, which surveyed 2,588 respondents, show that 5% now expect to lose their jobs due to AI.

“Despite this, the overall sentiment towards AI remains largely positive, as 48% of Malaysian workers said that AI has improved their job satisfaction this year,” adds Fahad.

According to NTT Data CEO Henrick Choo, the best way to navigate the fear of being replaced by AI is to embrace lifelong learning and adaptability. He says that he has seen employees transition from traditional support roles to newly-created positions in AI operations, product testing and customer success – often within just a few months.

“Focus on roles that rely on uniquely human skills like ­empathy, decision-making, ­critical thinking, and creativity which are areas where AI still lags behind,” says Choo in a statement to LifestyleTech.

His advice to individuals would be to start investing in digital ­fluency by learning to work alongside AI tools, adding that they should embrace continuous learning and stay updated on the latest tools, trends as well as ­governance practices.

“AI is not here to replace ­people, but to augment their capabilities. The most successful professionals will be those who understand how to leverage AI tools while asking the right ­questions about data ownership, ethical use, and value distribution,” adds Choo.

Razin shares that individuals who have successfully adapted to the rise of AI often share key qua­­lities such as adaptability, curiosity, and a mindset geared toward continuous learning. He also believes that basic AI literacy is becoming essential in the work place regardless of whether an employee is in a technical role.

Razin says those who have ­successfully adapted to the rise of AI usually have a mindset geared toward continuous learning. — EdvanceRazin says those who have ­successfully adapted to the rise of AI usually have a mindset geared toward continuous learning. — Edvance

“We’ve seen many success stories, people who were once in roles like administrative support or basic data entry, who, through upskilling, moved into project management, digital marketing, or even junior AI operations roles.

“What helped them stand out was the learning itself and the mindset shift. They saw AI not as the end of their role, but the begin­­ning of a new one,” says Razin.

As for Fahad, he encourages employees to experiment with various generative AI tools to ­discover how they can boost ­productivity at work. He says exposure and experiences can help employees gain a deeper understanding of AI’s potential and limitations to anticipate how their roles might change.

“With the increasing integration of AI, talent should discuss with their managers how their career pathway may change. This involves identifying areas for deepening specialisation, mapping out training opportunities and having a pulse on how job responsibilities may evolve with increasing digital and AI disruption,” adds Fahad.

Fahad says the company’s 2025 Workmonitor report involving 503 res­­pon­­dents in Malaysia shows that 53% of talents trust their employers to invest and provide opportunities for continuous learning particularly in AI and technology. He adds that 56% of responders trust their ­employers to be transparent about business decisions that will impact their role.

“It is clear that while employers are excited about rolling out AI-powered tools and solutions, they should also be transparent and forthright about how AI will transform the company’s operations and processes, and more importantly, how it will impact the employees’ job security and career prospects,” says Fahad.

Redefining work roles

Experts share that the impact of AI may be more nuanced than just simply replacing people at work.

“Yes, we are definitely seeing AI reshape job functions in Malaysia though it’s less about outright replacement and more about redefinition,” says Choo.

Choo says the next five to 10 years will mark the rise of ‘hybrid intelligence’ where humans and AI collaborate as equal partners. — NTT DataChoo says the next five to 10 years will mark the rise of ‘hybrid intelligence’ where humans and AI collaborate as equal partners. — NTT Data

Razin shares a similar sentiment, where he says the company is also starting to see signs of generative AI changing the shape of the labour market in Malaysia.

“At this moment in time, we’re witnessing more of its impact on job transformation than full-on replacement,” he says.

Razin adds that repetitive or process-driven roles are being ­partially replaced or heavily ­supported by AI tools. He cites examples like some companies turning to AI to automate customer service by using chatbots or to perform document sorting or data entry.

According to Choo, Gen-AI ­powered chatbots and voicebots are now able to handle “up to 90% of fact-based customer ­service queries”, reducing the need for large call centre teams.

Razin adds that his company is also seeing ­changes in sectors like marketing, finance, education and tech services.

“These industries are adopting generative AI to speed up ­routine work, which means job scopes are evolving,” says Razin, adding that some local banks have ­started automating things like loan processing and ­compliance checks.

“So, rather than cutting jobs, they’re moving people into new roles that focus on oversight and analysis,” says Razin.

A 2024 national study by TalentCorp reveals that around 620,000 jobs – equivalent to 18% of formal sector roles in Malaysia – are expected to be significantly impacted by AI, digitalisation, and the green economy within the next three to five years.

The 72-page report highlights 14 roles including incident investigator, cloud administrator, and applications support engineer as among those on the High Impact list. It also listed 51 roles on the Medium Impact list such as IT audit manager, ­customer ­experience manager and data centre operations ­engineer.

In an article published by the World Economic Forum in June, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim highlights the report’s findings and says: “Workers ­currently in these roles require cross-skilling, upskilling or even reskilling.”

Why AI?

The machine may be better than people for specific tasks at work. Fahad says AI-based ­solutions are capable of ­processing large volumes of data and look at established ­patterns or past history to ­perform ­repetitive tasks. The key here, he says, is that AI is able to do so with better accuracy and consistency.

“These tools are highly applicable in tasks that require ­standardisation, speed, and scale. AI systems can also ­operate round-the-clock, which increases outcomes and greatly reduces time and cost,” Fahad adds.

According to an Ipsos AI Monitor 2025 survey involving 500 Malaysian adults, 63% fear AI’s potential to replace their ­current job within the next three to five years. — This visual is human-created, AI-aidedAccording to an Ipsos AI Monitor 2025 survey involving 500 Malaysian adults, 63% fear AI’s potential to replace their ­current job within the next three to five years. — This visual is human-created, AI-aided

Choo explains that tasks that would normally take human teams days to do – such as fraud detection, code generation or content summarisation – can now be completed by AI in a shorter amount of time.

“Generative AI, in particular, is a strong performer when applied to structured domains: drafting documents, generating marketing visuals and videos, producing basic code, and ­summarising reports,” Choo says, adding that these tools operate best when provided with clear inputs and boundaries, making them highly viable in predictable scenarios.

Apart from processing huge volumes of data, Razin says advanced AI solutions are also capable of ­spotting trends across complex datasets and are ­capable of ­continuously learning through feedback loops.

What the future brings

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made it known that Malaysia is committed towards becoming a leader in AI and digital transformation in the Asean region.

During the launch of the National AI Office last year, he emphasised that Malaysia must embrace the need for tech-­driven change.

“History has shown that industrial revolutions and ­technological advancements ­initially sparked anxiety but ­ultimately created more opportunities. This is why training and digital literacy are critical in equipping our workforce for these changes,” he said in his speech.

As for the challenges inherent in the use of AI, Anwar emphasised in an Aug 18 report by The Star that Malaysians have to face the hurdles head-on by emphasising humanistic ­values and critical thinking.

“We must not only focus on developing expertise but also on nurturing values,” he explains.

While Malaysia has made meaningful progress through frameworks like the National AI Roadmap and the Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDigital) with initiatives that reflect strong policy intent and direction, Razin says the pace of AI adoption in the workplace is outstripping both skills development and ­policy execution.

“One of the most urgent gaps is in talent. There’s growing demand for AI-literate professionals such as engineers, data scientists, prompt engineers, and ethics specialists, but education and training systems haven’t yet scaled to meet this demand.

“The workforce also lacks widespread access to affordable, high-quality upskilling pathways that align with the real-world applications of AI,” he adds.

Razin believes for Malaysia to truly thrive in the AI era – ­policies must be “adaptive, data-­informed, and shaped in collaboration with those building and using these tools daily”.

Choo says the next five to ten years will mark the rise of “hybrid intelligence” where humans and AI collaborate as equal partners. He believes new AI-driven roles that have emerged include AI assistant trainers (experts to finetune how AI behaves and communicates) and AI governance leads (to ­oversee bias, ethics and ­compliance).

“We see this across every ­function: marketers using GenAI to personalise outreach, analysts using AI to simulate future ­scenarios, and engineers working with AI to rapidly prototype ­innovations. The emphasis will shift from hard skills alone to cross-functional fluency; blending AI literacy with domain expertise,” adds Choo.

In Malaysia, Choo says AI transformation can also be seen in areas like healthtech, smart manufacturing and agritech where roles in digital twin ­modelling and data privacy are gaining traction.

“The future is not about who gets replaced, but who gets reimagined. With the right ­support, that can and should include everyone,” he concludes.-- By ANGELIN YEOH

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Thursday, July 27, 2023

Musk’s Starlink lands in Malaysia

New initiative aims to increase GDP, improve wage levels and quality of life

The Madani Economy framework to restructure the country’s economy is to ultimately provide the people with the benefits to enjoy a better quality of life, says the Prime Minister. Execution is very important as announcements are not new to Malaysia, say trade groups.

KUALA LUMPUR: Taking Malaysia into one of the top 30 economies in the world over the next decade is among the ambitious goals set by Putrajaya under Madani Economy, the latest economic framework.

“This is a framework to elevate the dignity and status of our nation by restructuring the economy towards making Malaysia a leader in the South-east Asian region. This ultimately benefits the people, (who would) enjoy a better quality of life,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Anwar, who launched the Madani Economy: Empowering the Rakyat initiative here yesterday, said it was imperative for the country to not rest on its laurels with its 4% to 5% annual GDP growth rate, but instead to become a regional economic powerhouse, beginning with targeting a yearly GDP expansion rate of 5.5% to 6%.

“Malaysia needs to build larger economic integration with our neighbours, especially as the world is facing a supply chain disruption. We need to better equip Malaysian corporations for greater competitiveness and to at least breach into the Asean market,” he said in his keynote address at the Madani Economy launch.

Another important area is to improve wage levels to help everyone have a better quality of life, he added. This includes hauling the country’s Compensation of Employees to Gross Domestic Product (CE:GDP) ratio up from 35% to 45% and improving Malaysia’s standing in the Global Competitiveness Index to 12th or better, said Anwar.

The CE:GDP ratio is generally used to gauge the income-earning power of a country’s citizens and measures the share of compensation paid to employees who make up a country’s GDP.

Apart from that, the Prime Minister said that there should be sensible utilisation of free trade agreements for better movement of goods, capital, human resources and technology-sharing.

He said the government was also looking to introduce tax incentives to reward companies that produce high-impact economic products and activities.

To improve Malaysia’s global competitiveness and expand the economy, Anwar said his administration has allocated Rm100mil to complete the infrastructure at various industrial zones throughout the country. An additional Rm100mil would be allotted to enhance the research, development, commercialisation and innovation ecosystem, he added.

The focus will be on industrial needs, renewable energy and new growth activities – all part of the government’s effort to achieve a gross domestic expenditure on R&D to GDP ratio of 3.5%.

“All the efforts to enhance the country’s economy ultimately leads to the next step, which is to improve the livelihood of Malaysians. The success of the Madani Economy structural renewal has to be measured by how it produces jobs with a meaningful remuneration package for the people,” he said.

The government is also looking into several oft-mentioned initiatives such as enacting a progressive minimum wage system – which has partly been put into effect – as well as reducing the reliance on foreign labour by introducing a tiered-levy system on non-malaysian workers.

Anwar said such efforts will increase the adoption of automation and provide upskilling opportunities for Malaysian employees.

He said his administration is working with a number of government-linked investment companies (GLICS) to invest up to Rm1bil in additional funds, in partnership with private investors, to support local startups and to further spur technopreneurship.

Recognising that approximately 79% of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMES) consist of micro businesses, he said these small-size endeavours have the potential to expand and penetrate international markets, especially if they get enough facilities and support.

As such, he said the government would prepare an addition Rm100mil in the digitalisation matching grant to help MSMES further digitalise their business models. This is in line with digital economy reforms meant to enhance the online business exposure of such enterprises.

Madani is an acronym for a policy that embraces six core values: kemampanan (Sustainability), Kesejahteraan (Prosperity), Daya Cipta (Innovation), hormat (Respect), keyakinan (Trust) and Ihsan (Compassion).

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Monday, July 10, 2017

Six simple steps to defend your data from ransomware


Recent ransomware attacks have rattled internet users around the world. This malicious software blackmails users by encrypting the files on their computer or mobile device and demanding payment, generally in the virtual currency bitcoin, to unlock them. But these six simple security measures can significantly reduce the risk of a computer being hit by an attack.

1. Regular updates: Software updates for browsers and operating systems don't just add new functions – they also install security patches to protect computers against the latest malicious software.

The German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) recommends enabling automatic updates on a device and advises against the use of older operating systems such as Windows XP, for which Microsoft has stopped providing regular security updates.

Microsoft will also discontinue updates for the operating system's successor, Windows Vista, this summer – all the more reason to replace it with a newer version.

2. Be vigilant: Don't trust anyone, says nomoreransom.org, a website run by IT security companies and European law enforcement. Never open email attachments from suspicious accounts, don't click on questionable links and don't download unverified software.

Even emails from friends and co-workers should not necessarily be trusted. Before opening an attachment or clicking on a link, always take time to consider whether the sender's online account could have been hacked or their computer software infiltrated by malicious software.

3. Antivirus software: Enable all the security applications in your operating system, advises the BSI. Reliable antivirus software can provide further protection, but must be kept up-to-date.

4. Back up data: Creating digital duplicates of your files can protect your personal information from disappearing forever. In the event of an attack, you can just transfer over your back-up files.

Windows (Backup and Restore) and MacOS (Time Machine) have in-built applications for backing up your data, but they might not be accessible in the event of an attack. A more secure option would be to save your files in an external device, such as a hard disk drive, solid-state drive, DVD, or in the cloud.

To reduce the risk of spreading viruses, only connect the external drive to a device during file transfers. As an extra precaution, save your data in two separate external hard drives.

5. Fight back: If you happen to accidentally install malicious software or receive suspicious messages, immediately disconnect your device from the internet, instructs  nomoreransom.org. to be decrypted. This will prevent the infection from spreading.

You can then run a clean installation of your computer software, and transfer over your back-up files. For some types of ransomware, there are techniques to unlock the content on your computer.

The latest malware outbreak "Petya" can be stopped by creating the read-only filetype "C:\Windows\perfc.dat," which prevents it from scrambling your files. An initial report on the antidote published on the site bleepingcomputer.com has since been confirm by several IT security companies.

6. Never pay: A blackmailer's demands should never be met, says the State Office of Criminal Investigation (LKA) of Lower Saxony. There are several reasons for this, the LKA reports. First, even if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that you will regain access to your files.

Second, by paying the attacker, you are supporting the growth of a criminal industry. Every payment finances new attacks. In the case of the recent Petya outbreak, the payment system is useless, because only one email address was provided, which has since been shut down by the provider. — dpa

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Saturday, December 27, 2014

The game-changing trends: social media, cloud, big data in information technology

Information technology players believe Malaysia is beginning to tap into the potential of the Internet of things.

KUALA LUMPUR: Social media, the cloud and big data will be the game-changing trends that will transform Malaysia’s information and communications technology (ICT) industry and spur further growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) next year, says industry players.

National ICT Association of Malaysia (Pikom) chairman Cheah Kok Hoong said Malaysia had started to tap into the rapidly growing potential of IoT, which could be a new economy by itself covering business areas such as embedded device manufacturing, connectivity infrastructure and application deployments.

He said the trend would provide a new opportunity to position the country as the hub for regional IoT innovation projects in South-East Asia.

However, companies would be increasingly challenged by new factors on the back of business agility that came with mobility, security, analytics, and miniaturisation of devices and millennial generation aspirations, he told Bernama.

“Adoption of cloud solutions will also move from conceptual to the practical stage.

“As predicted by International Data Corp’s global market intelligence, Malaysia’s big data market is anticipated to hit not less than RM75mil but many businesses have yet to consider big data as a big business for their organisation and it thus remains at a tactical level,” he added.

IT spending registered significant growth as reflected in the growth of value-added services, which are expected to grow about 13.6% in 2014 to RM68bil from RM59.8bil in 2013.

Cheah said the overall ICT services sector was also projected to grow at 12.7% in 2015 to RM77.7bil.

Meanwhile, CA Technologies South Asia vice-president Chua I. Pin said the country was entering an era where IT had become the central source of revenue for businesses.

He said 2015 would see a shift in the way businesses structured themselves, looking for new engagement and revenue opportunities using connected devices, big data and analytics, and underpinning these new models would be a fundamental shift in the way software is developed and deployed.

“Software will continue to become the primary way that consumers interact with businesses, which would evolve dramatically in 2015 as businesses become more competitive to reach out to their clients, and we will see apps shifting from simply helping people make decisions to being able to predict what people need,” he said.

Cheah added that with the need for more sophistication in the ICT industry, human capital remained the main challenge in the industry towards achieving high-income nation status.

There is a persistent and widening gap of remuneration packages for ICT professionals between Malaysia and neighbouring countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, coupled with the declining number of ICT graduates, he said.

He said although the new trends such as big data and social media had created many new job functions in high demand, the nation still faced a lack of skilled talent in the market. — Bernama

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Five tech-powered changes in next five years, IBM predicted


Technology stalwart IBM on Tuesday predicted classrooms getting to know students and doctors using DNA to customize care are among five big changes on the horizon.

IBM said that its annual forecast of five ways technology will change lives in the coming five years was "driven by a new era of cognitive systems where machines will learn, reason and engage with us in a more natural and personalized way."

And while software evolves to "think" in ways similar to the human brain, computing power and troves of data kept handy in the Internet "cloud" will enable machines to power innovations in classrooms, local shops, doctors' offices, city streets and elsewhere, according to the firm behind the Watson computer that triumphed on US television game show Jeopardy.

"Over time these computers will get smarter and more customized through interactions with data, devices and people, helping us take on what may have been seen as unsolvable problems by using all the information that surrounds us and bringing the right insight or suggestion to our fingertips right when it's most needed," IBM contended.


Predictions for the coming five years included "classrooms of the future" equipped with systems that track and analyze each student's progress to tailor curriculum and help teachers target learning techniques.

"Basically, the classroom learns you," IBM vice president of innovation Bernie Meyerson told AFP. "It is surprisingly straight-forward to do."

In another prediction, IBM sees retail shops large or small blending online and real-world storefronts with 'Watson-like' technologies and augmented reality.

Also, doctors will tailor treatments using patient DNA, according to Meyerson.

"Knowing your genetic make-up lets you sort through a huge variety of treatment options and determine the best course to follow," he said.

"They don't have to carpet bomb your body to treat cancer," Meyerson continued. "There is the ability to tailor the attack to improve the efficacy against cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched."

Smart machines tapping into the Internet cloud will also be able to serve as "digital guardians" protecting people from hackers by recognizing unusual online behavior, such as shopping binges at dubious websites, and spying scam email messages or booby-trapped links.

"The digital guardian will know you are not someone who goes to a poker site and tops off your account," Meyerson said. "Not only does it shut down the behavior, but it tracks it back to who is doing it and passes the information on to authorities."

The final prediction was that cities will weave social networks, smartphones, sensors, and machine learning to better manage services and build relationships with citizens.

"The city will help you live in it," Meyerson said. "There is a new generation of leaders coming in who are extremely tech savvy and making good use of it."

Sources: AFP-Times