Malaysian social enterprise Pepper Labs has embarked on a strategic collaboration with Microsoft to expand the artificial intelligence (AI) for Malaysia’s Future (AIForMYFuture) initiative, a skilling program designed to democratize AI fluency across Malaysia.

Pepper Labs said in a statement on Monday that this relationship underscores a shared commitment to drive AI skilling opportunities, contributing to the program’s overall target of equipping 800,000 individuals with AI knowledge by 2025.

As AI continues to transform industries and economies, Malaysia stands at a crucial juncture where AI knowledge is key to unlocking future opportunities, said the statement.

It noted AIForMYFuture aims to bridge the AI knowledge gap, ensuring Malaysians from all walks of life – civil servants, students, youth, teachers, grassroots communities, entrepreneurs, professionals in key industries, and corporate leaders are prepared to leverage AI for growth, innovation and societal advancement.

This initiative aligns with Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s vision which underscores the significance of AI adoption in government services and society to drive Malaysia’s digital transformation agenda.

The initiative provides accessible AI education, focusing on foundational knowledge, ethical AI use and practical applications.

Designed to reach diverse audiences, this program integrates hands-on training and self-paced digital learning modules to make AI knowledge easily understandable and widely available.

Through this collaboration, Microsoft brings its AI modules and expertise, while Pepper Labs activates its extensive and diverse strategic network to ensure maximum outreach and impact.

By working closely with stakeholders across various sectors, Pepper Labs will drive nationwide adoption of AI fluency.

To date, the collaboration with key government agencies and community groups has already started delivering impactful results.

These include AI skilling for officials of the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of National Unity, National Audit Department, Prime Minister’s Department, Department of Federal Territories, Fire and Rescue Department, Bank Simpanan Nasional, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn, as well as community organizations such as Komuniti Rukun Tetangga and teacher networks throughout Malaysia.

These collaborations reflect Pepper Labs’ sustained dedication to empowering Malaysians through inclusive and accessible learning opportunities.

“Microsoft’s 2024 Work Trend Index shows that 84 percent of Malaysian knowledge workers are already using AI at work,

“This demonstrates that AI fluency is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity,” said Adilah Junid, Director of Legal and Government Affairs at Microsoft Malaysia.

“We are thrilled to work with Pepper Labs to expand AIForMYFuture to provide inclusive opportunities for AI skilling to an even larger group of people, ensuring that Malaysians, regardless of their background, are equipped with knowledge to thrive in an AI-driven future,” she added.

Echoing this sentiment, Kuhan Pathy, Founder of Pepper Labs, stated, at Pepper Labs, they believe in harnessing technology for good.

“By leveraging our deep-rooted networks and commitment to social impact, we aim to empower communities, educators and businesses to embrace AI with confidence,” he added.

Pepper Labs, a digitally smart social enterprise with ten years of experience dedicated to empowering communities through sustainable projects.

The firm has successfully reinvested MYR 10 million ($2.28 million) into social initiatives, collaborating with key agencies including Khazanah Nasional and Microsoft to drive meaningful change in Malaysia.

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