AI Malaysia Takeover 2026: Turning Malaysians from AI Users into AI Builders

KUALA LUMPUR, August 2026 – Artificial intelligence is no longer simply a futuristic concept for Malaysians. It is quickly becoming part of how people work, learn, create and solve everyday problems.

This growing interest was on full display at AI Malaysia Takeover 2026 (AIMTO_26), which brought together more than 3,500 Malaysians to learn, experiment and build with AI.

The flagship event gathered participants from different backgrounds, including government representatives, technology companies, investors, developers, entrepreneurs and members of the wider AI community.

Rather than focusing solely on discussions about what AI could do, AIMTO_26 placed a strong emphasis on giving Malaysians the opportunity to actually use the technology and turn ideas into practical solutions.

Bringing Malaysia’s AI Community Together

One of the key highlights of AIMTO_26 was the participation of prominent figures from Malaysia’s technology, business and policy sectors. The event featured discussions, demonstrations and conversations surrounding the future of artificial intelligence and Malaysia’s digital ambitions.

Minister of Digital Malaysia, YB Gobind Singh Deo, also unveiled the new Rakyat Digital portal, marking another important development in the country’s digital transformation journey.

The event featured a diverse lineup of speakers, including Khairy Jamaluddin and Shahril Hamdan, co-founders of Kelas Sekejap; Dr Rainer Deutschmann, Group Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer of Axiata; Paul Copplestone, CEO and Founder of Supabase; Khailee Ng, Managing Partner of 500 Global; and Foong Chee Mun, CEO of YTL AI Labs.

With policymakers, technology leaders, investors and AI practitioners gathered under one roof, AIMTO_26 provided a platform for conversations around how Malaysia can develop stronger AI capabilities and ensure that more people can participate in the country’s AI economy.

From AI Users to AI Builders

Perhaps the most significant component of AIMTO_26 was its Learn-A-Thon, which attracted more than 1,000 participants ranging from complete beginners to experienced developers.

Instead of simply listening to presentations or attending conventional workshops, participants were encouraged to learn by doing. With the guidance of facilitators and mentors, teams worked on their own ideas and transformed them into functioning digital products.

The scale of participation earned the initiative recognition from the Malaysia Book of Records for the Largest Artificial Intelligence (AI) Learn-A-Thon.

This recognition highlights the growing appetite among Malaysians to understand and experiment with emerging technologies. More importantly, it demonstrates that AI learning does not have to be limited to experienced programmers or technology professionals.

YTL AI Labs Powers Hands-On AI Experience

A major part of the Learn-A-Thon experience was powered by YTL AI Labs, which provided participants with free access to ILMUchat, a Malaysian-developed AI platform designed to understand local context.

Through ILMUchat, participants were able to explore AI development while working with technology hosted on Malaysian sovereign infrastructure. This provided a practical environment for teams to experiment with AI and explore potential applications relevant to everyday Malaysian needs.

During the Learn-A-Thon, participants created a wide variety of projects, including AI agents, applications, games and websites.

Among the examples were a Duit Raya Planner, designed to help users manage festive giving, and a Traffic Light Simulator, which explored how traffic flows could be modelled using technology. Participants also developed Knowledge Databases that could provide shared context for multiple AI agents.

These projects demonstrate an important shift in the way people approach AI. Instead of simply asking an AI chatbot to generate information, participants were given the opportunity to explore how AI could become part of an actual product or solution.

Keeping the Momentum Going Beyond the Event

The AI learning experience did not end when AIMTO_26 concluded. Participants were also given one month of free access to ILMUchat, allowing them to continue experimenting and developing their ideas after the Learn-A-Thon.

For YTL AI Labs, the initiative is part of a broader effort to help Malaysians become more comfortable with AI and understand its potential.

Foong Chee Mun, CEO of YTL AI Labs, highlighted the importance of giving people opportunities to work directly with the technology. He said meaningful AI capability can only grow when more Malaysians have the chance to explore what AI can do and build with it.

The approach is particularly relevant as businesses and organisations across Malaysia increasingly explore AI for productivity, automation, customer service, data analysis and digital innovation.

Building Practical AI Skills for Malaysia

Rizal Shah Amat, CEO of Ludic Asia, described the Learn-A-Thon as a starting point for building a community of Malaysians who are confident not only in using AI but also in creating solutions with it.

That distinction could become increasingly important in the coming years.

As AI tools become easier to access, simply knowing how to use an AI chatbot may no longer be enough. The ability to understand AI, identify real-world problems and develop practical AI-powered solutions could become valuable skills across different industries.

AIMTO_26 therefore represents more than a large technology event. Its Learn-A-Thon shows how hands-on experiences can help bridge the gap between curiosity and capability.

Malaysia’s Growing AI Ambition

With more than 3,500 attendees and over 1,000 participants taking part in the Learn-A-Thon, AI Malaysia Takeover 2026 demonstrates the strong interest surrounding artificial intelligence in the country.

The event also highlights the importance of creating opportunities for Malaysians to move beyond being passive users of technology.

Whether it involves developing an AI-powered website, creating a productivity tool, building an intelligent game or finding a solution to a local problem, the possibilities become much wider when people are given the tools and confidence to experiment.

Ultimately, Malaysia’s AI journey will depend not only on technology itself, but also on people who are willing to learn, experiment and build.

And if AIMTO_26 is any indication, there is already a growing community of Malaysians ready to do exactly that.

Keywords

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