Covering Disruptive Technology Powering Business in The Digital Age

Written by: Izzat Najmi Abdullah, Journalist, AOPG

Since 2016, Amazon Web Services (AWS) has been a key player in Malaysia’s ongoing digital transformation journey, actively supporting the nation’s technological advancements through continuous investments and collaborations. “We are dedicated to empowering Malaysia’s growth and innovation,” affirmed Pete Murray, Country Manager, Malaysia and Head of FSI, ASEAN, AWS, during a recent media meeting. According to Pete, AWS offers a robust cloud platform that enables businesses of all sizes to flourish in the digital era.

Pete Murray, Country Manager, Malaysia and Head of FSI, ASEAN, AWS

Malaysian Businesses to Fully Embrace Generative AI

Amidst the swift ascent of Generative AI (Gen AI), Malaysia is poised to lead the charge in embracing this transformative technology. The Country Manager of Malaysia for AWS recognises the profound potential of Gen AI, affirming, “Generative AI has the potential to completely redefine how we interact with businesses and organisations.”

However, successful Gen AI implementation requires careful consideration of several key elements, according to Pete. First, choosing the right model tailored to specific use cases is crucial for maximising effectiveness. Second, secure data customisation empowers users to personalise models with their own data, ensuring optimal performance and relevance. Third, user-friendly tools are essential for democratising Gen AI within an organisation, fostering widespread adoption. Finally, delivering real-time and cost-effective AI responses necessitates a purpose-built machine learning infrastructure capable of handling low-cost and low-latency responses.

In a move that promises to revolutionise CelcomDigi’s operations and empower other Malaysian businesses with cutting-edge AI solutions, CelcomDigi and AWS announced that they have embarked on a collaborative effort to champion generative AI in Malaysia. During the briefing, a spokesperson mentioned that this partnership signifies a commitment to not only enhance CelcomDigi’s internal processes but also foster a broader ecosystem of AI expertise within the nation.

At the heart of this collaboration lies Amazon Bedrock, a platform offering access to advanced AI models and tools. CelcomDigi will leverage Bedrock to establish an “AI Sandbox,” an environment dedicated to fostering experimentation and innovation among its employees. This sandbox will serve as a breeding ground for customised generative AI solutions tailored to various departments, including HR, customer service, legal, and finance. Recognising the crucial role of skilled professionals in harnessing the power of AI, both parties have also committed to joint training initiatives, equipping CelcomDigi employees with the necessary expertise to utilise these advancements effectively.

Beyond streamlining internal workflows, this partnership prioritises enhancing the user experience. CelcomDigi plans to integrate AI solutions, such as chatbots powered by Amazon Titan and Anthropic Claude, to facilitate personalised interactions and seamless communication with its diverse customer base. Additionally, CelcomDigi and AWS will explore the possibilities of deploying personalised generative AI solutions for other Malaysian businesses and consumers, aiming to empower the wider Malaysian community with this transformative technology.

Pete also highlighted the broader impact of the partnership, stating, “CelcomDigi’s collaboration with AWS is a great example of how telcos can enhance end-to-end operational efficiency and redefine the user experience for both employees and customers with the power of generative AI technology.”

“With AWS, CelcomDigi can drive new use cases at scale with AI-optimised infrastructure and the flexibility to choose fit-for-purpose foundational models through Amazon Bedrock,” Pete continued. “This collaboration also accelerates the delivery of new innovative AI services to Malaysian enterprises. We are excited to support CelcomDigi in advancing its 5G and AI transformation with our upcoming AWS Region in Malaysia, and our joint commitment to develop AI talent in the country.”

Sustainable Innovation: The Power of the Cloud and Beyond

While the collaboration between AWS and Malaysian businesses has demonstrably propelled the nation’s digitalisation efforts, a crucial element remains at the forefront; building a sustainable future. As Azhar Abdullah, Head of Enterprise, Malaysia, AWS, emphasised, “Building a sustainable future remains crucial.”

AWS’s commitment to sustainability manifests in several ways. One key aspect is partnering with Malaysian businesses to decarbonise their operations. This aligns with Amazon’s ambitious goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. “By leveraging the cloud, businesses can optimise their resource utilisation and reduce their environmental footprint,” explains Azhar.

Azhar Abdullah, Head of Enterprise, Malaysia, AWS

Further solidifying this commitment is the Pan-Amazon collaboration with Petronas and Gentari. This partnership aims to intensify sustainability and decarbonisation initiatives, fostering the growth of green energy. This collaboration exemplifies AWS’s commitment to a collaborative approach towards a greener future.

Beyond sustainability, Azhar highlights the cloud’s role in empowering sustainable innovation. “We believe that the AWS cloud, along with our advanced technologies and Amazon’s unique culture of innovation, provides Malaysian customers and partners of all sizes with the tools and inspiration they need to realise their sustainable journey,” he states.

The cloud itself holds inherent sustainability benefits. Studies conducted by Amazon show that compared to traditional on-premises data centres, the cloud can be 5 times more energy efficient and offers a 78% lower carbon footprint,

These impressive gains translate to significant energy savings, further reducing the environmental impact of cloud computing.

The partnership between CelcomDigi and AWS promises to be a true game-changer for Malaysia’s embrace of generative AI. This collaboration between the US-based company and Malaysian businesses can serve as a powerful catalyst to position the nation as a leader in the global tech landscape.

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