Kuala Lumpur: Artificial Intelligence (AI) lacks critical thinking and nuanced judgment, thus making humans irreplaceable in the workforce, according to industry experts. BlackBerry CCoE Cybersecurity Technical Training senior manager Jaclyn Sim explained that while AI is capable of taking over repetitive tasks, it lacks the creative and analytical abilities that are unique to humans.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sim stated that AI should be viewed as an assistant for repetitive tasks, allowing humans to focus on more creative and analytical endeavors. ‘Think of AI as just another human that can work 24/7. However, what we want AI to help us with are repetitive tasks, the things we do every day that are the same. We as humans want to do something more creative, more analytical,’ she said during a forum titled ‘The Future of Connectivity: Advancing Digital Inclusion Through Transformative Technologies.’
The forum was organised by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in conjunction with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2025. Sim also highlighted that the increasing use of AI technologies brings new risks, which in turn boosts the need for cybersecurity professionals. ‘When it comes to AI, everyone connects to every information, be it good or bad. That is why cybersecurity is now more important than ever to ensure the information is not polluted or something others shouldn’t see,’ she added.
Meanwhile, MCMC deputy managing director Datuk Zurkarnain Mohd Yasin, also a panellist at the forum, supported Sim’s views, emphasizing that AI should be considered a facilitator rather than a replacement. ‘AI is just a product. It efficiently assembles information. But AI cannot innovate, only humans can. This is why we need more innovators in cybersecurity because threat actors are constantly evolving,’ he said.
Zurkarnain stressed that while AI can assist in predictive analysis, human intelligence is crucial for effectively guiding and prompting AI systems. ‘AI needs to be prompted. So that innovation, that critical thinking, is still human. What we need now are new skill sets and high-level thinking,’ he said. He referenced a recent incident involving an AI-generated version of the Jalur Gemilang to illustrate the need for human oversight in ensuring the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated content.
Both Sim and Zurkarnain expressed that AI, rather than threatening employment, offers an opportunity for the Malaysian workforce to upskill and adapt to the evolving technological landscape.