US Leverage Foreign Assistance To Support Malaysia’s AI Adoption Under AI Spark -- Envoy
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- The United States (US) is leveraging its foreign assistance to support Malaysia’s adoption of American artificial intelligence (AI) under a new initiative, US-ASEAN AI SPARK, aimed at strengthening technology cooperation and accelerating the country’s digital economy ambitions.
US Ambassador to ASEAN Kevin Kim said the initiative reflects a new approach by the US administration in deploying its resources to support technology adoption and deepen economic cooperation with Southeast Asian countries.
“We are now using American foreign assistance for strategic application in the adoption of AI, which has never been done before,” he said at Bernama TV programme The Nation titled “ASEAN-US at 50: The Next Big Moves” today.
US-ASEAN AI SPARK initiative is a US government programme launched in July 2026 to promote American AI exports and support public-sector AI deployment across Southeast Asia.
Kim said the initiative aligns with Malaysia’s ambition to move up the value chain and establish itself as a regional technology and AI hub.
He said the US looked forward to working with the Malaysian government, industries and workforce to facilitate technology adoption, provide training, create quality employment opportunities, and help Malaysia strengthen its technological capabilities while creating opportunities for both countries.
He said the US believed that its technological capabilities, particularly in AI, could help other countries advance their economic development.
“What is best for Malaysia and what is best for the US, and we want to ensure balance between the two countries, but fundamentally, this has to work for the Malaysian government and people, which means that the best services should always win out,” he added.
On July 28, 2026, the government announced the establishment of AI Malaysia Bhd, a national AI entity under the Ministry of Digital, to catalyse the realisation of the AI Nation 2030 aspiration.
Alongside the launch of AI Malaysia, the government also introduced the National AI Action Plan 2026-2030 as a critical nation-building agenda.
The plan is driven by a highly structured implementation mechanism that focuses on strengthening the ecosystem through two main components: 14 sectoral initiatives with direct impact on socioeconomic growth; and 14 supporting initiatives for impact sectors, based on five core catalysts.
The five core catalysts are globally competitive human capital, market-driven innovation, data and computing infrastructure, responsible governance, and sustainable financing and investment.
-- BERNAMA