Malaysia's Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo speaks during the launch of Malaysia's National AI Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 12, 2024. Malaysia launched a national office here on Thursday to regulate and shape policies of the country's burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector, aiming to establish itself as a regional hub. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia launched a national office here on Thursday to regulate and shape policies of the country's burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector, aiming to establish itself as a regional hub.

The National AI Office (NAIO) is a strategic initiative under the Digital Ministry established to position Malaysia as a regional leader in AI and a global driver of digital transformation, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said in a statement following the launch.

"Tasked with fostering innovation, advancing cross-sector collaboration, and integrating AI into government, industry, and societal frameworks, NAIO aims to address local and global challenges while promoting sustainable development," he said.

The office will lead efforts in AI research, adoption, and commercialization to enhance the digital economy and improve public services, he added.

Gobind said the office would also work to ensure every segment of society enjoys the benefits of AI.

"Imagine a country where AI helps fishermen pinpoint the best fishing spots, farmers get to optimize land use and boost yields for plantations, while local authorities are able to proactively manage natural disasters. This is the transformative innovation that the NAIO is committed to," he said.

Malaysia has emerged as a top regional investment destination in a number of high-tech industries over the past year, drawing investments in data centers, cloud and AI projects.

According to the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, 71.1 billion ringgit (16 billion U.S. dollars) of investments in the country's information and communications sectors were recorded for the first nine months of 2024.

An AI virtual anchor is pictured during the launch of Malaysia's National AI Office in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Dec. 12, 2024. Malaysia launched a national office here on Thursday to regulate and shape policies of the country's burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) sector, aiming to establish itself as a regional hub. [Photo/Xinhua]