I recently came across PMX's vision for Sovereign AI and Malaysia's ambition to become a regional AI hub. I believe it is the right direction.
However, there is a reality we need to acknowledge.
Many government leaders, industry leaders, and organisations are still heavily dependent on foreign AI platforms.
Recently, we have seen significant investments being made into AI solutions from overseas providers, including access for large numbers of public sector users. While this helps accelerate AI adoption, it also raises an important question:
Are we building AI capability, or are we simply renting it?
When we use foreign AI platforms extensively, they do not just gain access to our data. Over time, they can also gain insights into how we work, how we solve problems, how our institutions operate, and ultimately, how we think.
That is why Sovereign AI matters.
Not because we want to replace Microsoft, Google, Apple, AWS or OpenAI. Realistically, that is almost impossible in the short term.
But reducing dependency? That is both possible and necessary.
Malaysia also needs to move beyond AI hype. The conversation should not always be about bigger models, bigger GPU clusters, and larger data centres. Sometimes the winner is not the biggest player, but the one that deploys technology more intelligently.
Japan did not challenge the American automotive giants by building larger cars. They introduced smaller, more efficient, reliable and practical vehicles. Many underestimated them at first, yet they eventually transformed the global automotive industry.
AI may follow a similar path.
The future is not only about building larger models. It is also about building smarter architectures.
With approaches such as smart routing and detached systems, suitable workflows can reduce GPU load, infrastructure requirements and power consumption by as much as 90%, while still delivering meaningful outcomes.
Most importantly, we must adopt AI responsibly.
Using AI intelligently means consuming less power, reducing waste, lowering environmental impact and creating more sustainable digital infrastructure.
This is where AI and ESG should come together.
Digital sovereignty does not mean isolating ourselves from the world.
It means having control over critical infrastructure, developing local capabilities, protecting strategic data, and ensuring that we always have our own options.
The future of AI should not be measured only by the number of GPUs we own.
It should also be measured by how efficiently, responsibly and sustainably we use them.
🇲🇾 🤖 🌱