• Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO) launch introduced two major initiatives with Google.
• Google’s partnership with Malaysia’s NAIO includes a US$2 bn investment in a Cloud region and data centre.

Two major initiatives were announced at the launch of Malaysia’s National AI Office (NAIO), marking a significant step forward in integrating generative AI into public services.

The initiatives are part of Google’s broader partnership with the Malaysian government, which includes a US$2 billion investment in a new Google data centre and Cloud region in Selangor’s Elmina Business Park. Construction on the facilities has been underway since October 2024.

Introducing ‘AI at Work’: A productivity boost for public officers

The first initiative, ‘AI at Work,’ is a collaboration between the Ministry of Digital and Google Cloud. The programme will integrate Gemini for Google Workspace into public officers’ daily routines, beginning with a pilot program at the Ministry of Digital. The goal is to enhance productivity by leveraging AI for tasks like report writing and meeting summaries, allowing officers to focus on strategic projects.

Gemini for Google Workspace is designed to be an “always-on” AI collaborator that streamlines workflows, creates visualisations, and improves communication in teams. Built with enterprise-grade protections, it ensures that sensitive data stays inside trusted boundaries.

Public officers using Gemini will gain access to a suite of productivity apps, like Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Chat. Furthermore, NotebookLM, a personalised AI research assistant included as an add-on, enhances how public officers interact with legislative and policy documents.

NotebookLM: Transforming how public officers access information

NotebookLM stands out by allowing users to upload and query documents, extracting insights to support decision-making. For example, a public officer can upload files such as Google Docs, PDFs, or URLs and ask questions about their content. NotebookLM gives accurate answers with inline citations to ensure transparency. Aside from Q&A, the tool can generate summaries, briefing documents, timelines, and audio overviews, making it a useful assistant for public service personnel.

Google has also introduced new tools to enhance productivity and improve access to enterprise data. Google Agentspace, for instance, uses AI capabilities to help employees tackle tasks such as planning, research, and content creation. By combining Gemini’s reasoning abilities, search, and enterprise data, Agentspace enables employees to work more efficiently, regardless of where data is hosted.

NotebookLM is also being expanded for enterprises with a feature called NotebookLM Plus. Employees can use the tool to upload data, synthesise information, and extract insights, supporting more dynamic methods of engaging with content, such as Audio Overviews, which are similar to podcast-style summaries.

NotebookLM Plus prioritises security and privacy for organisational use, and an experimental version of Gemini 2.0 Flash is being integrated to improve the capabilities.

Serene Sia, Country Director for Malaysia and Singapore at Google Cloud, highlighted the importance of this initiative: “In alignment with NAIO’s goal of promoting AI innovation through collaboration, the AI at Work initiative by the Ministry of Digital and Google Cloud will empower public officers with secure and best-in-class AI tools to drive efficiency, innovation, and citizen-centric service delivery.”

Collaboration for responsible AI adoption

The second initiative focuses on policy and education. Google and NAIO are establishing an ‘AI Policy and Skilling Lab’ in Malaysia. The lab will serve as a hub for policymakers, industry experts, and other stakeholders to collaborate on AI-related challenges and opportunities. Through think tank discussions and workshops, the Lab aims to develop frameworks and best practices for the responsible use of AI.

Su Ann Lim, Head of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Google Cloud’s Southeast Asia Cluster, emphasised the Lab’s role: “The AI Policy and Skilling Lab aligns with the Malaysia government’s goals of operationalising safe and responsible AI. By fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing, this initiative will establish clear guidelines for AI adoption, ensuring its benefits are realised while mitigating potential risks. This will not only elevate Malaysia’s standing as a leader in the region for AI development and adoption but also attract investment and create new economic opportunities for Malaysians – especially ahead of the country’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025.”

Together, the initiatives highlight Malaysia’s ambitions to use AI for national development, demonstrating how technology and strategic partnerships can drive meaningful change in public service and beyond.

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