Two strategic initiatives between Google and government agencies were introduced on stage yesterday at the launch of Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO), aimed at transforming public service delivery through the power of generative AI. These initiatives build upon Google’s ongoing commitment to Malaysia, which includes a US$2 billion investment in a new Google data center and Google Cloud region, with construction of these facilities underway since October 2024 in Elmina Business Park, Selangor.

The first initiative, ‘AI at Work,’ is a joint effort between the Ministry of Digital and Google Cloud to integrate Gemini for Google Workspace into the daily workflows of public officers.

Beginning with a pilot program with the Ministry of Digital, this initiative seeks to enhance productivity by having AI assist with tasks like report writing and meeting summarization, freeing up valuable time for public officers to focus on strategic priorities. Gemini for Google Workspace will also facilitate more effective communication and collaboration within the public sector.

An always-on AI collaborator that helps teams write, organize, visualize, accelerate workflows, have richer meetings, and more, Gemini for Google Workspace was built with the everyday demands of organizations in mind. It gives users access to Gemini – Google’s most capable multimodal AI models, built into the collaboration and productivity apps that billions of people use every day, with built-in enterprise-grade protections that ensure data is not shared outside an organization’s trust boundary.

Google Workspace apps include Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, Chat, and as an Additional Service, NotebookLM.

NotebookLM, named one of Time Magazine’s ‘Best Inventions of 2024,’ is a personalized AI research assistant that allows public officers to interact with trusted content sources, such as their legislative, policy, and research documents, to get grounded insights that empower quicker decision-making and improved responsiveness to citizen needs.

Public officers can upload source documents (e.g., Google Doc and Slides, PDFs, web URLs, copied text) into a ‘notebook’ and ask NotebookLM questions about the information in those sources. NotebookLM will then respond with answers from the sources uploaded, with inline citations from those documents to show users what NotebookLM based its answers on. NotebookLM can also be used to generate a variety of content based on the sources uploaded, such as summaries, briefing documents, timelines, FAQs, and even Audio Overviews – a feature that lets users listen to a conversation about their uploaded sources.

Serene Sia, Country Director, Malaysia and Singapore, Google Cloud, said, “In alignment with NAIO’s goal of promoting AI innovation through collaboration, the AI at Work initiative by the Ministry of Digital and Google Cloud will empower public officers with secure and best-in-class AI tools to drive efficiency, innovation, and citizen-centric service delivery. This collaboration exemplifies Malaysia’s commitment to leveraging enterprise-grade AI for national development and positions the country as a leader in the digital economy.”

The second initiative involves NAIO and Google establishing an ‘AI Policy and Skilling Lab’ in Malaysia. The Lab aims to provide Malaysian policymakers with frameworks and best practices to help them embrace AI’s transformative potential. Through regular think tank discussions, the Lab will bring together industry experts, policymakers, and other stakeholders to exchange ideas, debate emerging issues, and develop informed policy recommendations geared toward promoting the secure and responsible application of AI in Malaysia.

Su Ann Lim, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Southeast Asia Cluster, Google Cloud, said, “The AI Policy and Skilling Lab aligns with the Malaysia government’s goals of operationalizing safe and responsible AI. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, this initiative will establish clear guidelines for AI adoption, ensuring its benefits are realized while mitigating potential risks. This will not only elevate Malaysia’s standing as a leader in the region for AI development and adoption but also attract investment and create new economic opportunities for Malaysians – especially ahead of the country’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.”

#GenerativeAI #DigitalTransformation #GoogleCloud #AIInnovation #MalaysiaLeadership