Kuala lumpur: Artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to contribute between RM13 billion and RM20 billion annually to Malaysia's gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, stated Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. AI is already demonstrating tangible economic value in Malaysia, with projections indicating it could add between 0.8 and 1.2 percentage points to Malaysia's GDP growth each year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, the digital economy, increasingly powered by AI, contributed over 23 per cent to Malaysia's GDP last year, amounting to more than RM450 billion in economic value. Gobind Singh highlighted that AI is becoming central to productivity, competitiveness, and national growth, marking a structural shift in the economy. His remarks were part of a speech at the 5th International Conference on Youth 2026 (ICYouth) hosted by Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), delivered on his behalf by Deputy Digital Minister Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong.
Gobind Singh also announced the upcoming launch of the Government Innovation Initiative (GII), a platform aimed at solving public sector challenges through innovation using emerging technologies, including AI. The initiative will provide a guided framework for experimentation, allowing ideas to be tested, refined, and scaled responsibly. Institutions like UPM are expected to play a key role in this initiative by providing technical capability, research environment, and talent.
He further emphasized the significance of developing and using AI responsibly, particularly by the younger generation. Gobind Singh pointed out that the future of AI depends not only on technology but also on the values integrated into it, affecting real decisions and lives. The ICYouth conference plays a crucial role by bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry players, and youth to ensure that innovation is balanced with responsibility.
The conference, organized by UPM Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), focuses on the theme 'AI and Youth for Societal Impact: Transforming Communities and Advancing Wellbeing'. It aims to explore how AI technology can be used inclusively and ethically to enhance social wellbeing.