Malaysia’s Public Sector to Benefit from the Collaboration with Google in AI at Work 2.0 Initiative
Malaysia accelerates AI adoption in public service with Google’s generative AI tools, aiming to enhance efficiency, digital literacy, and ASEAN leadership in AI-driven governance.
The Ministry of Digital and Google have officially launched ‘AI at Work 2.0’, an initiative aimed at equipping up to 445,000 public officers with Google Workspace’s generative AI (GenAI) tools to enhance service delivery and productivity.
Building upon the pilot programme initiated in December 2024, this expanded initiative integrates AI-driven tools to streamline government operations and improve citizen engagement.
Google’s Commitment to AI in Malaysia
Rahul Sharma, Managing Director of APAC Public Sector at Google, highlighted the company’s ongoing investment in AI infrastructure and skills development. He reiterated that AI has the potential to revolutionise industries, from healthcare to agriculture, and underscored Google’s three key focus areas in supporting Malaysia’s AI transformation.
- Energy-Efficient AI Infrastructure – Google has committed US$2 billion towards establishing a Google data centre and cloud region in Malaysia. These facilities, currently under construction, will support local AI innovation and national digitalisation efforts.
- Building an AI-Ready Workforce – Google is investing in AI training through initiatives such as Gemini Academy, Google Cloud Skills Boost, and the Google AI Essentials course. These programmes aim to equip individuals with the skills necessary to leverage AI in their respective fields.
- AI Optimisation and Responsible Implementation – Google is helping organisations integrate AI securely with tools such as Vertex AI and Google Workspace, ensuring AI adoption aligns with Malaysia’s broader digital transformation strategy.
Sharma also emphasised the success of the initial AI at Work pilot, where 97% of participants reported saving 3.2 hours per week through AI-assisted workflows, and 91% acknowledged improved collaboration using generative AI tools.
Government’s AI Strategy and Vision
The Minister of Digital, Gobind Singh Deo, officiated the launch, reinforcing the government’s commitment to embedding AI across the public sector.
“The potential of AI in shaping a more efficient, effective, and digitally empowered nation is immense. Our goal is to leverage technology to build Malaysia into an AI-ready nation that is forward-thinking and innovative,” said Gobind.
He outlined three key areas of focus for AI in Malaysia:
- AI for Public Services – “The government must lead by example. We are committed to transforming public services through AI-driven solutions. Whether it is optimising administrative workflows, enhancing service delivery, or improving decision-making, AI has the power to revolutionise governance.”
- Talent Development and Digital Literacy – “For AI to thrive, we need a skilled and adaptable workforce. This is why we are investing heavily in upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Programmes such as government-led AI training, partnerships with industry leaders, and academic collaborations will play a key role in equipping Malaysians with the necessary digital skills to succeed in an AI-powered world.”
- AI and Digital Economy Growth – “AI is a major driver of economic transformation. A quarter of our GDP was contributed by technology, and we are looking to find a way to drive more. Our efforts in digitalisation are aimed at positioning Malaysia as a leader in the ASEAN digital economy.”
Gobind also stressed the importance of collaboration between the government, private sector, and academic institutions. “Strong partnerships between the public and private sectors, academia, and technology providers are essential,” he said.
“Companies like Google, Microsoft, and AWS have been instrumental in supporting AI-related upskilling and infrastructure development. We must continue fostering these collaborations to ensure that Malaysia remains at the forefront of AI innovation.”
As Malaysia leads ASEAN’s digitalisation efforts, Gobind highlighted the importance of regional cooperation. “With 700 million people in ASEAN, the potential is vast, and collaboration is key to unlocking this potential.”
Live Demonstration of AI Capabilities
Edward Satio, Google Workspace’s Customer Engineer for APAC Public Sector, conducted a live demonstration showcasing how AI tools can revolutionise government workflows. Key features included:
- AI-Assisted Document Drafting: Gemini AI automates the drafting of press releases, policy papers, and official communications, reducing the time spent on manual documentation.
- Regulatory and Policy Analysis: Notebook LM enables officers to upload large policy documents, extract key insights, summarise complex texts, and conduct AI-powered research.
- AI-Generated Podcasts: One of the most engaging features demonstrated was an AI-generated podcast, where users could input government reports, and AI would convert them into a conversational podcast format with lifelike voices discussing key findings.
Satio also highlighted AI security measures, ensuring that AI-powered tools adhere to government security policies, with data access restricted to authorised users and not utilised for AI model training.
“AI-powered security features provide 99.9% spam and malware protection for government communications,” Satio assured.
One Step Closer to the AI-Powered Nation
AI at Work 2.0 highlights the nation’s continued efforts to foster cutting-edge technologies in public services. With Google’s continued investments and the Ministry of Digital’s commitment to AI-driven transformation, the initiative is expected to set a benchmark for AI adoption in public services across ASEAN.
The government plans to roll out further AI training sessions and expand use cases across ministries, ensuring that Malaysia remains at the forefront of digital innovation.
