Klang, Feb. 25 (Bernama) – Malaysian media industry should view artificial intelligence (AI) as a tool that complements its role as a major source of information for the people, not as a threat, Deputy Communications Minister Theo Ni Ching said.
She said given the fast-paced technological advancements in today’s landscape, it is important for each sector, especially the media, to keep up with the latest developments so that they don’t get left behind.
“There are, of course, some concerns, but we can see that RTM has overcome the challenge of using AI news readers in one channel in Chinese to introduce news segments to get the right talent.
“So, to some extent, we believe that AI will help address the challenge of finding the right talent in a particular field. It can also accelerate information searches and enable media practitioners to work more efficiently,” she added.
She told reporters about this after hosting the 21st Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union Digital Broadcasting Symposium 2025 today.
Teo noted that through the National Intelligence Dissemination Centre (NADI), the government is actively promoting “AI for the People,” an online self-learning initiative designed to raise public awareness of AI.
She said the program has had a major impact on communities across the country since its launch in May 2024, with 4,417 individuals bringing the total number of Malaysians who completed the module to 1.3 million last year as of December 31st.
However, TEO reminded the public that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is working to ensure a safer digital ecosystem for local users, and should be cautious about online safety issues related to AI-driven fraud.
“In 2023, MCMC deleted 6,297 fraud-related posts from social media, but this number skyrocketed to 63,652 in 2024.
