Google and MY collaborate on AI-focused initiatives to strengthen digital competitiveness

Google and the Malaysian government have collaborated on two initiatives to equip Malaysian youth with artificial intelligence (AI) skills and to enhance public service delivery with the help of cloud-native, AI-driven productivity tools that will strengthen Malaysia’s digital competitiveness.

The first initiative involves the Ministry of Higher Education to upskill Malaysian youth from diverse backgrounds by providing 161 institutes of higher learning with 500 Google Career Certificate scholarships each until the end of 2024.

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Designed by Google experts, the nine Google Career Certificates span fields such as cybersecurity, data analytics, and IT support. They will be completed within three to six months through flexible, self-paced online training, with no prior experience required.

Google Cloud has also made its data management, cybersecurity, and AI skills development training options accessible to working professionals through the Google Cloud Skills Boost program. The courses include Cloud Digital Leader Learning Path and Introduction to Generative AI Learning Path along with gamified learning experiences through The Arcade.

Next, 445,000 public officers will be equipped with Google Workspace tools to boost productivity across the public sector in collaboration with Jabatan Digital Negara (JDN). JDN is a government agency in charge of coordinating and implementing national and public sector digitalisation projects under the Ministry of Digital.

This move will help public officers accelerate policy development, budget planning, and public consultations by allowing them to work together on tasks without switching between tools. Public officers will also be able to easily find information across internal document repositories using Google-quality search capabilities, and leverage other embedded AI tools to streamline workflows and facilitate data-driven decision-making.

“This is a significant step toward creating inclusive growth opportunities for more Malaysians and strengthening the country’s digital advancement—goals that were central to the strategic collaboration we signed with the Government of Malaysia late last year,” said Karan Bhatia, global head of government affairs and public policy, Google.

“As governments around the world consider how they can make the most of the AI opportunity, Malaysia is embracing technology as a key driver of national competitiveness and spearheading secure and responsible AI adoption in the public sector,” added Bhatia.

While Google aids Malaysia’s digital capabilities, it also recently collaborated with Malaysia Airlines to boost tourism and drive digital evolution within the aviation sector.

As part of the partnership, Malaysia Airlines intends to harness AI and digital technologies to enhance its commercial operations, streamline processes and provide tailored experiences to travellers.

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