Digital cooperation

Malaysia and Huawei drive AI workforce training push

Malaysia has intensified its push to build an AI-ready workforce, with Huawei pledging to train 30,000 local professionals under a new initiative. The plan aligns with Malaysia’s National Cloud Computing Policy, balancing sovereignty and digital economy competitiveness.

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo stressed that AI adoption must benefit all Malaysians, highlighting applications from small business platforms to AI-assisted diagnostics in remote clinics. He urged collaboration across industries to ensure inclusivity as the country pursues its digital future.

Huawei’s Gartner recognition for container management highlights its cloud-native strength. Its Pangu models and container products will support Malaysia’s AI goals in manufacturing, healthcare, transport, and ASEAN industries.

The programme will target students, officials, industry leaders, and associations while supporting 200 local AI partners. Huawei’s network of availability zones in ASEAN provides low-latency infrastructure, with AI-native innovations designed to accelerate training, inference, and industrial upgrades.

The government of Malaysia views AI as crucial to achieving its 2030 goals, which aim to balance infrastructure, security, and governance. With Huawei’s backing and a new policy framework, the country seeks to establish itself as a regional hub for AI expertise.

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Indonesia promises to bolster digital sovereignty and AI talent on Independence Day

Indonesia marked its 80th Independence Day by reaffirming its commitment to digital sovereignty and technology-driven inclusion.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, following President Prabowo Subianto’s ‘Indonesia Incorporated’ directive, highlighted efforts to build an inclusive, secure, and efficient digital ecosystem.

Priorities include deploying 4G networks in remote regions, expanding public internet services, and reinforcing the Palapa Ring broadband infrastructure.

On the talent front, the government launched a Digital Talent Scholarship and AI Talent Factory to nurture AI skills, from beginners to specialists, setting the stage for future AI innovation domestically.

In parallel, digital protection measures have been bolstered: over 1.2 million pieces of harmful content have been blocked, while new regulations under the Personal Data Protection Law, age-verification, content monitoring, and reporting systems have been introduced to enhance child safety online.

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US may take stake in Intel to boost chip production

The US government is reportedly considering acquiring a stake in Intel to support its domestic chip manufacturing plans. Talks began after Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan met with Trump administration officials on 11 August, following calls for his resignation over alleged China ties.

President Trump has pushed for greater control over the semiconductor sector and recently criticised Tan, prompting political pressure on Intel’s board.

While Intel declined to comment on a possible deal, it stated its commitment to supporting US technology and manufacturing leadership.

The proposed stake would aid Intel’s delayed Ohio chip factory project and expand its US production capacity.

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Cohere secures $500m funding to expand secure enterprise AI

Cohere has secured $500 million in new funding, lifting its valuation to $6.8 billion and reinforcing its position as a secure, enterprise-grade AI specialist.

The Toronto-based firm, which develops large language models tailored for business use, attracted backing from AMD, Nvidia, Salesforce, and other investors.

Its flagship multilingual model, Aya 23, supports 23 languages and is designed to help companies adopt AI without the risks linked to open-source tools, reflecting growing demand for privacy-conscious, compliant solutions.

The round marks renewed support from chipmakers AMD and Nvidia, who had previously invested in the company.

Salesforce Ventures’ involvement hints at potential integration with enterprise software platforms, while other backers include Radical Ventures, Inovia Capital, PSP Investments, and the Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan.

The company has also strengthened its leadership, appointing former Meta AI research head Joelle Pineau as Chief AI Scientist, Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger as Chief Product Officer, and ex-Uber executive Saroop Bharwani as Chief Technology Officer for Applied R&D.

Cohere intends to use the funding to advance agentic AI, systems capable of performing tasks autonomously, while focusing on security and ethical development.

With over $1.5 billion raised since its 2019 founding, the company targets adoption in regulated sectors such as healthcare and finance.

The investment comes amid a broader surge in AI spending, with industry leaders betting that secure, customisable AI will become essential for enterprise operations.

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Apple plans Siri upgrade with AI robots and smart displays

A tabletop robot, expected by 2027, could follow users around with a moving display and an animated voice assistant. Apple previewed this concept in research earlier this year, showing a dancing robot mimicking user movement.

Siri may soon take on a more visual, animated form, allowing natural conversations similar to ChatGPT’s voice mode. Apple is testing designs based on Memoji and the Finder icon.

A new smart home display will likely launch in 2026, featuring facial recognition and shared user access. Its design reportedly resembles Google’s Nest Hub.

Apple is also developing a range of home security products, including cameras and other devices, forming a new innovative ecosystem.

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ChatGPT gets local pricing in India

OpenAI has introduced local pricing for ChatGPT in India, allowing users to pay in rupees instead of US dollars. The shift follows the release of GPT-5, which supports 12 Indian languages and offers improved relevance for local users.

India is now the second-largest ChatGPT market outside the US. The Plus plan now costs $24 per month, while the Pro and Team plans are priced at $240 and $25 per seat, respectively.

OpenAI is also expected to launch a lower-cost option called ChatGPT Go, potentially priced at $5 to appeal to casual users. Competitors like Google and Perplexity AI have also responded by offering free access to students and telecom customers to boost adoption.

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India pushes for safe AI use in financial sector

India’s central bank has proposed a national framework to guide the ethical and responsible use of AI in the financial sector.

The committee, set up by the Reserve Bank of India in December 2024, has made 26 recommendations across six focus areas, including infrastructure, governance, and assurance.

It advised establishing a digital backbone to support homegrown AI models and forming a multi-stakeholder body to evaluate risks.

A dedicated fund to boost domestic AI development tailored for finance was also proposed, alongside audit guidelines and policy frameworks.

The committee recommended integrating AI into platforms such as UPI while preserving public trust and ensuring security.

Led by IIT Bombay’s Pushpak Bhattacharyya, the panel noted the need to balance innovation with risk mitigation in regulatory design.

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Google backs workforce and AI education in Oklahoma with a $9 billion investment

Google has announced a $9 billion investment in Oklahoma over the next two years to expand cloud and AI infrastructure.

The funds will support a new data centre campus in Stillwater and an expansion of the existing facility in Pryor, forming part of a broader $1 billion commitment to American education and competitiveness.

The announcement was made alongside Governor Kevin Stitt, Alphabet and Google executives, and community leaders.

Alongside the infrastructure projects, Google funds education and workforce initiatives with the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University through the Google AI for Education Accelerator.

Students will gain no-cost access to Career Certificates and AI training courses, helping them acquire critical AI and job-ready skills instead of relying on standard curricula.

Additional funding will support ALLIANCE’s electrical training to expand Oklahoma’s electrical workforce by 135%, creating the talent needed to power AI-driven energy infrastructure.

Google described the investment as part of an ‘extraordinary time for American innovation’ and a step towards maintaining US leadership in AI.

The move also addresses national security concerns, ensuring the country has the infrastructure and expertise to compete with domestic rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic, as well as international competitors such as China’s DeepSeek.

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South Korea unveils megagrowth plan with AI expressway and energy reform

President Lee Jae-myung has announced a sweeping national megagrowth plan that positions South Korea at the forefront of AI and energy transformation.

The initiative includes the creation of an ‘AI expressway’, starting with the Ulsan AI data centre, underpinned by bold tax incentives and regulatory reforms to attract private sector investment. Complementing this is a proposed investment of 100 trillion won to accelerate AI innovation, next-generation semiconductors, and the development of AI infrastructure and innovation zones.

On the energy front, the government has launched a dedicated task force to develop an AI-powered next-generation power grid. This ‘electric highway’ aims to integrate AI technology into renewable energy distribution and grid modernisation without needing vast new infrastructure.

Complementing the power grid overhaul, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) plans to invest around 73 trillion won by 2038 to expand transmission lines and upgrade the power infrastructure serving major semiconductor complexes.

Together, these measures form a robust blueprint that aligns digital transformation with energy security, aimed at keeping South Korea globally competitive while responding to rising electricity demands from AI and other tech industries.

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India must ramp up AI and chip production to meet global competition

At the Emkay Confluence in Mumbai, Chief Economic Adviser V. Anantha Nageswaran emphasised that while trade-related concerns remain significant, they must not obscure the urgent need for India to boost its AI and semiconductor sectors.

He pointed to AI’s transformative economic potential and strategic importance, warning that India must act decisively to remain competitive as the United States and China advance aggressively in these domains.

By focusing on energy transition, energy security, and enhanced collaboration across sectors, Nageswaran argued that India can strengthen its innovation capacity and technological self-reliance.

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