FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Donald Trumps former campaign manager looked squarely into the camera and promised his viewers they were about to witness a bold new era in politics.

Youre going to see some of the most amazing new technology in artificial intelligence thats going to replace polling in the future across the country, said Brad Parscale in a dimly lit promotional video accentuated by hypnotic beats.

Parscale, the digital campaign operative who helped engineer Trumps 2016 presidential victory, vows that his new, AI-powered platform will dramatically overhaul not just polling, but campaigning. His AI-powered tools, he has boasted, will outperform big tech companies and usher in a wave of conservative victories worldwide.

Its not the first time Parscale has proclaimed that new technologies will boost right-wing campaigns. He was the digital guru who teamed up with scandal-plagued Cambridge Analytica and helped propel Trump to the White House eight years ago. In 2020, he had a public blowup then a private falling out with his old boss after the Capitol riot. Now hes back, playing an under-the-radar role to help Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee, in his race against Democratic President Joe Biden.

Parscale says his company, Campaign Nucleus, can use AI to help generate customized emails, parse oceans of data to gauge voter sentiment and find persuadable voters, then amplify the social media posts of anti-woke influencers, according to an Associated Press review of Parscales public statements, his company websites, slide decks, marketing materials and other documents not previously made public.

Since last year, Campaign Nucleus and other Parscale-linked companies have been paid more than $2.2 million by the Trump campaign, the Republican National Committee and their related political action and fundraising committees, campaign finance records show.

While his firms have received only a small piece of Trumps total digital spending, Parscale remains close to top Republicans, as well as senior officials at the campaign and at the RNC, according to a GOP operative familiar with Parscales role who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal dynamics.

Lara Trump, the RNCs new co-chair and Trumps daughter-in-law, once worked as a consultant to a company co-owned by Parscale. And U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson's campaign recently hired Campaign Nucleus, campaign finance records show.

Parscale, however, is not involved in day-to-day Trump campaign operations, the GOP operative said.

Parscales ability to use AI to micro target supporters and tap them for campaign cash could prove critical for Trumps campaign and other fundraising organizations. They have seen a falloff in contributions from smaller donors and a surge in spending at least $77 million so far on attorneys defending the former president in a slew of criminal and civil cases.

Beyond Trump, Parscale has said hes harnessed AI to supercharge conservative candidates and causes across the globe, including in Israel, the Balkans and Brazil.

NEW AI-POWERED CAMPAIGN TOOLS

Parscale is hardly alone in using machine learning to try to give candidates an edge by predicting, pinpointing and motivating likely supporters to vote and donate money. Politicians at all levels are experimenting with chatbots and other generative AI tools to write speeches, ad copy and fundraising appeals.

Some Democrats have voiced concern over being outmaneuvered by Republicans on AI, much like they were on social media advertising eight years ago. So far, the Biden campaign and other Democrats said they are using AI to help them find and motivate voters and to better identify and defeat disinformation.

Election experts say they are concerned about AIs potential to upend elections around the world through convincing deepfakes and other content that could mislead voters. Free and low-cost generative AI services have grown in sophistication, and officials worry they can be used to smear a candidate or steer voters to avoid the polls, eroding the publics trust in what they see and hear.

Parscale has the financial backing to experiment to see what works in ways that other AI evangelists may not. That is thanks, in part, to his association with an evangelical Texas billionaire who is among the states most influential political donors.

Parscale did not respond to multiple messages from AP seeking comment. The RNC declined comment as well.

AI IS SO SCARY

Trump has called artificial intelligence so scary " and "dangerous." His campaign, which has shied away from highlighting Parscale's role, said in an emailed statement that it did not engage or utilize tools supplied by any AI company.

The campaign uses a set of proprietary algorithmic tools, like many other campaigns across the country, to help deliver emails more efficiently and prevent sign up lists from being populated by false information, said campaign spokesman Steven Cheung.

While political consultants often hype their tactics to land new contracts, they can also be intensely secretive about the details of that work to avoid assisting rivals. That makes it difficult to precisely track how Parscale is deploying AI for the Trump campaign, or more broadly.

Parscale has said Campaign Nucleus can send voters customized emails and use data analytics to predict voters feelings. The platform can also amplify anti-woke influencers who have large followings on social media, according to his companys documents and videos.

Parscale said his company also can use artificial intelligence to create stunning web pages in seconds that produce content that looks like a media outlet, according to a presentation he gave last month at a political conference, where he was not advertised in advance as a speaker.

Empower your team to create their own news, said another slide, according to the presentation viewed by AP.

Soon, Parscale says, his company will deploy an app that harnesses AI to assist campaigns in collecting absentee ballots in the same way DoorDash or Grubhub drivers pick up dinners from restaurants and deliver them to customers.

Chris Wilson, a Republican strategist who recently worked for a SuperPAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis failed presidential bid, said he has seen Campaign Nucleus platform and was envious of its capabilities and simplicity.

Somebody could download Nucleus, start working with it and really begin to use it, said Wilson.

Other political consultants, however, called Parscales AI-infused sales pitch largely a rehash of what campaigns already have mastered through data scraping, ad testing and modeling to predict voter behavior.

Some of this stuff is just simply not new, its been around for a long time. The only thing new is that were just calling it AI, said Amanda Elliott, a GOP digital strategist.

FROM UNKNOWN TO TRUMP CONFIDANT

Parscale, a relatively unknown web designer in San Antonio, got his start working for Trump when he was hired to build a web presence for the business moguls family business.

That led to a job on the future presidents 2016 campaign. He was one of its first hires and spearheaded an ambitious and unorthodox digital initiative that relied on an extensive database of social media accounts and content to target voters with Facebook ads.

I pretty much used Facebook to get Trump elected in 2016, Parscale said in a 2022 podcast interview.

To better target Facebook users, in particular, the campaign teamed up with Cambridge Analytica, a British datamining firm bankrolled by Robert Mercer, a wealthy and influential GOP donor. After the election, Cambridge Analytica dissolved, facing investigations over its role in a breach of 87 million Facebook accounts.

Following Trumps surprise win, Parscales influence grew. He was promoted to manage Trump's reelection bid and enjoyed celebrity status. A towering figure at 6 feet, 8 inches with a Viking-style beard, Parscale was frequently spotted at campaign rallies taking selfies with Trump supporters and signing autographs.

Parscale was replaced as campaign manager not long after a rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, drew an unexpectedly small crowd, enraging Trump.

His personal life unraveled, culminating in a standoff with police at his Florida home after his wife reported he had multiple firearms and was threatening to hurt himself. One of the responding officers reported he saw bruising on the arms of Parscales wife. Parscale complied with a court order to turn in his firearms and was not charged in connection with the incident.

Parscale briefly decided to quit politics and privately expressed regret for associating with Trump after the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. In a text to a former campaign colleague, he wrote he felt guilty for helping him win in 2016, according to the House committee that investigated the Capitol attack.

His disgust didnt last long. Campaign Nucleus set up Trumps website after Silicon Valley tech companies throttled his access to their platforms.

By the summer of 2022, Parscale had resumed complimenting his old boss on a podcast popular among GOP politicos.

With President Trump, he really was the guy driving the message. He was the chief strategist of his own political uprising and management, Parscale said. I think what the family recognized was: I had done everything that really the campaign needs to do.

PARSCALES PLATFORM

Trumps 2024 campaign website now links directly to Parscales company and displays that its Powered by Nucleus, as Parscale often refers to his new firm. The campaign and its related political action and campaign committees have paid Campaign Nucleus more than $800,000 since early 2023, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

Two other companies Dyspatchit Email and Text Services and BCVM Services are listed on campaign finance records as being located at the same Florida address used by Campaign Nucleus. The firms, which are registered in Delaware and whose ownership is unclear, have received $1.4 million from the Trump campaign and related entities, FEC records show.

When an AP reporter last month visited Campaign Nucleus small, unmarked office in a tony section of Fort Lauderdale, an employee said she did not know anything about Dyspatchit or BCVM.

We dont talk to reporters, the employee said.

The three companies have been paid to host websites, send emails, provide fundraising software and provide digital consulting, FEC records show.

Parscale markets Campaign Nucleus as a one-stop shop for conservative candidates who want to automate tasks usually done by campaign workers or volunteers.

The company says it has helped its clients raise $119 million and has sent nearly 14 billion emails on their behalf, according to a promotional video.

At his recent appearance at the political conference, Parscale presented a slide that said Campaign Nucleus had raised three times as much as tech giant Salesforce in head-to-head tests for email fundraising.

Campaign Nucleus specializes in mining information from a politicians supporters, according to a recent presentation slide.

For example, when someone signs up to attend an event, Nucleus uses AI to analyze reams of personal data to assign that person a numerical score. Attendees who have been to past events receive a high score, for example, ranking them as most likely to show up, according to a company video posted online.

Campaign Nucleus also can track where people who sign up live and can send them customized emails asking for donations or solicit their help on the campaign, the video shows.

Parscale said two years ago in a podcast that he had received more than 10,000 requests about Campaign Nucleus from nearly every country with a conservative party. More recently, he said his team has been active in multiple countries, including in India and Israel, where hes been helping over there a lot with the war with Hamas.

The company says it has offices in Texas, Florida and North Carolina and has been on a recruiting tear. Recent job listings have included U.S. and Latin America-based intelligence analysts to use AI for framing messages and generating content, as well as a marketer to coordinate influencer campaigns.

Campaign Nucleus has also entered into partnerships with other companies with an AI focus. In 2022, the firm announced it was teaming up with Phunware, a Texas-based company that built a cellphone app for Trumps 2020 bid that allowed staff to monitor the movements of his millions of supporters and mobilize their social networks.

Since then, Phunware obtained a patent for what a company official described as experiential AI that can locate peoples cellphones geographically, predict their travel patterns and influence their consumer behavior.

Phunware did not answer specific questions about the partnership with Nucleus, saying the company's client engagements were confidential.

However, it is well-known that we developed the 2020 Trump campaign app in collaboration with Campaign Nucleus. We have had discussions with Trump campaign leadership about potentially developing their app for the 2024 election," said spokeswoman Christina Lockwood.

PARSCALES VISION

Last year, Parscale bought property in Midland, Texas, in the heart of the nations highest-producing oil and gas fields. It is also the hometown of Tim Dunn, a billionaire born-again evangelical who is among the states most influential political donors.

Over the years, the organizations and campaigns Dunn has funded have pushed Texas politics further to the right and driven successful challenges to unseat incumbent Republican officials deemed too centrist.

In April 2023, Dunn invested $5 million in a company called AiAdvertising that once bought one of Parscales firms under a previous corporate name. The San Antonio-based ad firm also announced that Parscale was joining as a strategic adviser, to be paid $120,000 in stock and a monthly salary of $10,000.

Boom! Parscale tweeted. (AiAdvertising) finally automated the full stack of technologies used in the 2016 election that changed the world.

In June, AiAdvertising added two key national figures to its board: Texas investor Thomas Hicks Jr. former co-chair of the RNC and longtime hunting buddy of Donald Trump Jr. -- and former GOP congressman Jim Renacci. In December, Dunn also gave $5 million to MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC and Campaign Nucleus client. And in January, SEC filings show Dunn provided AiAdvertising an additional $2.5 million via his investment company. A company press release said the cash infusion would help it generate more engaging, higher-impact campaigns.

Dunn declined to comment, although in an October episode of his podcast he elaborated on how his political work is driven by his faith.

Jesus wont be on the ballot, OK? Now, eventually, hes going to take over the government and we can look forward to that, Dunn told listeners. In the meanwhile, were going to have to settle.

In business filings, AiAdvertising said it has developed AI-created personas to determine what messages will resonate emotionally with its customers target audience. Parscale said last year in a promotional video that Campaign Nucleus was using AI models in a similar way.

We actually understand what the American people want to hear, Parscale said.

AiAdvertising did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Parscale occasionally offers glimpses of the AI future he envisions. Casting himself as an outsider to the Republican establishment, he has said he sees AI as a way to undercut elite Washington consultants, whom he described as political parasites.

In January, Parscale told a crowd assembled at a grassroots Christian event at a church in Pasadena, California, that their movement needed to have our own AI, from creative large language models and creative imagery, we need to reach our own audiences with our own distribution, our own email systems, our own texting systems, our own ability to place TV ads, and lastly we need to have our own influencers.

To make his point plain, he turned to a metaphor that relied on a decidedly 19th-century technology.

We must not rely on any of their rails, he said, referring to mainstream media and companies. This is building our own train tracks.

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Burke reported from San Francisco. AP National Political Writer Steve Peoples and Courtney Subramanian in Washington, and Associated Press researcher Rhonda Shafner in New York contributed to this report.

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This story is part of an Associated Press series, The AI Campaign, that explores the influence of artificial intelligence in the 2024 election cycle.

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Contact APs global investigative team at Investigative@ap.org or https://www.ap.org/tips/

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The Associated Press receives financial assistance from the Omidyar Network to support coverage of artificial intelligence and its impact on society. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org

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Brad Parscale helped Trump win in 2016 using Facebook ads. Now he's back, and an AI evangelist - Yahoo! Voices

Berkshire Hathaway held its annual meeting on Saturday with Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett tackling a range of topics, including artificial intelligence, who will be responsible for the portfolio in the future, and the next potential investment.

But Woodstock for capitalists took place without Charlie Munger, Buffetts longtime business partner who passed away in November. The meeting featured a video tribute to Munger, who served as vice chairman, and praise from Buffett, who said Munger was the best person to talk to about managing money, according to remarks broadcast on CNBC.

I trust my children and my wife totally, but that doesnt mean I ask them what stocks to buy, he said.

Artificial intelligence risks

Buffett also recalled seeing an AI-generated image of himself and warned on the technologys potential for scamming people.

Scamming has always been part of the American scene, he told shareholders. But this would make meif I was interested in investing in scammingits going to be the growth industry of all time.

He then likened AI to nuclear weapons, saying I dont know any way to get the genie back in the bottle, and AI is somewhat similar, according to CNBC.

Succession outlook

Buffett, 93, had already indicated three years ago that Vice Chairman of Non-Insurance Operations Greg Abel would take over for him.

But he dropped a hint on Saturday about when new management would actually come into office, saying you dont have too long to wait on that. While he said he feels fine, he quipped that he shouldnt sign any four-year employment contracts.

Buffett also confirmed that Abel will be in charge of investing decisions, saying that responsibility ought to be entirely with the next CEO.

Questions had arisen about Berkshires closely followed portfolio as Buffett has acknowledged he delegated some calls and that certain stock picks were made by others.

Canada investment?

Buffett has lamented the lack of attractive investment opportunities in recent years, allowing Berkshires massive stockpile of cash and cash equivalents to reach fresh record highs.

Indeed, it surged to $189 billion at the end of the first quarter from $167.6 billion at the end of the fourth quarter.

On Saturday, Buffett reiterated that when it comes to investments, we only swing at pitches we like. But he also teased, We do not feel uncomfortable in any way shape or form putting our money into Canada. In fact, were actually looking at one thing now.

Those comments came after he touched on his investment in Japanese trading houses, saying its unlikely we will make any large commitments in other countries.

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Warren Buffett warns on AI, teases succession, and hints at possible investment during Berkshire Hathaway's annual ... - Fortune

Big Tech names like Nvidia have been on fire, thanks to the artificial intelligence boom and other chipmakers are sharing the limelight. The supply chain for AI is extensive. It includes companies in Asia-Pacific and ranges from producers of AI graphics processing units to printed circuit boards. Memory chips in particular have been in the spotlight as AI ramps up. For example, memory with high performance and bandwidth is used in Nvidia's H100 graphics processing units. GPUs underpin most generative AI tools, and Nvidia's GPUs dominate the market. Two stocks have dominated the memory chip market: Samsung and SK Hynix . Samsung is the world's largest manufacturer of dynamic random-access memory chips. DRAM is a type of semiconductor memory needed for data processing. But SK Hynix is a strong contender in the space: It said on March 19 that it became the first in the industry to mass produce HBM3E (high bandwidth memory 3E), the next generation of high-bandwidth memory chips used in AI chipsets. SK Hynix is already the primary supplier of HBM3 chips to Nvidia's AI chipsets. Both South Korean companies reported earnings in late April. Samsung beat expectations , with operating profit for the first quarter soaring more than 900%. SK Hynix broke its run of net losses for five consecutive quarters , logging a net profit of 1.92 trillion South Korean won ($1.39 billion) in the first quarter. Which is the better play on the AI boom? CNBC Pro spoke to the pros to find out. SK Hynix Trent Masters, global portfolio manager at Alphinity Investment Management, says he prefers SK Hynix. "First I think their early leadership in HBM3 stands them in good stead with customers as HBM demand continues to increase materially," he said. He added, "While Samsung and Micron are starting to close the technology gap, the trust and dependability of SK Hynix during the initial HBM ramp will ensure that they will retain a strong presence with these customers into the future." SK Hynix's recent partnership with TSMC to develop HBM4 will also position it as a leader again as this technology goes through its iterations, said Masters. Mass production of the HBM4 chips is expected to start in 2026. "Also, I prefer SK Hynix over Samsung as it is the pure memory play," Masters said, adding that Samsung is a "much more sprawling" conglomerate spanning smartphones, TVs and other products. "A view of memory market strength (HBM demand and tight legacy DRAM markets leading to pricing strength) is best reflected through ownership of SK Hynix," he said. Nam Hyung Kim, partner at Arete Research, also prefers SK Hynix, giving it a buy rating and Samsung a neutral rating. "SK Hynix stands out as a pure-play memory stock with leadership in AI technology, dominating the High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) market, which is crucial for AI servers," he said. "Samsung, in contrast, is attempting to catch up." Nam also pointed out that SK Hynix has higher profit margins in the sector than Samsung. He noted that Samsung's portfolio includes more than memory, with over half of its sales derived from low-value consumer appliances, TVs and smartphones. In addition, he said that Samsung's foundry business is facing "ongoing challenges." "Consequently, we recommend investors remain cautious with Samsung and consider pure-play memory firms like SK Hynix until Samsung can showcase renewed technological leadership in memory," Nam said. Over the past 12 months and year-to-date, SK Hynix has "significantly outperformed" Samsung in terms of stock price, he noted. "We anticipate this trend will continue throughout the upcoming memory up-cycle." Samsung But the buying opportunity for each stock also depends on timing, according to one analyst. Sung Kyu Kim, analyst atDaiwaCapital Markets, said he has buy ratings for both Samsung and SK Hynix on the "strong" memory upturn cycle. Though SK Hynix maintained its HBM3 leadership last year, he sees "intensifying competition" in HBM3E in the second half of this year and 2025. In conclusion, he prefers Samsung, predicting it will catch up in the near term and will have more upside to its stock price. "[But I] also anticipate a buying opportunity on SK Hynix once it is adjusted due to intensifying competition in HBM3E," said Kim. CNBC's Sheila Chiang contributed to this report.

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Samsung or SK Hynix? One Nvidia supplier is the better AI play, the pros say - CNBC

A screenshot of "Father Justin," an AI chatbot simulating a priest who answered questions for the Catholic Answers apostolate.(Image: Screenshot/Catholic Answers)

A few years ago on YouTube, there was a brief and fascinating fad for tensegrity tables. Tensegrity is a portmanteau combining tensional and integrity, and refers to structures whose parts are held together by a careful balance of continuous strain mediated through ropes or cables. The resulting objects are almost uncanny, with surfaces appearing to float in defiance of gravity.

When I first saw one of these tables, it struck me as a useful metaphor for the Christian life. The walk of a Christian often involves maintaining a careful equilibrium of attitudes apparently in tension. We are to be meek, yet courageous; just and merciful; patient but zealous; wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

If I would fault Catholic Answers with anything in the recent brouhaha over the release of its apologetics AI chatbot, it would be in having allowed dovelike innocence to overcome serpentine shrewdness. Of course, hindsight is always 20/20. Yet the ensuing mayhem following Father Justins online incardination might have been expected. The Catholic world experienced its own Tay AI moment, reminiscent of when Microsoft in 2016 released its own early iteration of a machine learning bot on Twitter. Within less than a day, the thing was sabotaged into docile adoption of the persona of a teenage neo-Nazi). To (reluctantly) quote Taylor Swift, This is why we cant have nice things.

I may share the criticism of Catholic Answers slight navete with others, but I find myself mostly out of sympathy with the majority of appraisals Ive read. On the contrary, to my reading, the general conversation over what we must now call simply Justin has been something of a masterclass in argumentative fallacies. The Catholic commentariat has done a roaring trade in the mongering of red herrings before now, of coursejust about every time Pope Francis speaks in public comes to mind. But there was something particularly breathtaking in the breathlessness with which every outlet in the Catholic media world got in line to pillory this poor fictional priest before the digital paint of his bucolic background was even dry.

The chosen metaphor isnt simply a rhetorical flourish. Its an important point and a reminder of a fact many critics seem to have forgotten: namely, that artificial intelligence is much more artifice than it is intelligence. This is seen most clearly in those whose primary objections seemed to stem from the fact that the bots characterpersonawas that of a priest, which arguably tells more about the critics than the creators. The creators seemed to know that theyd simply created a fictional character and given it a narrative framework and history, which any good fictional character demands. Father Justin was a work of artifice, no more real than Chestertons Father Brown, and similarly neither a disparagement nor diminution of the character of Holy Orders and the work of real priests.

Many critics, however, seemed to topple into the uncanny valley and be unable to climb back out, and were haunted in that shadowy place by an almost superstitious notion that this botmaybe any AI botis actually something more than a bit of very interactive make-believe.

I also cant help but wonder if there isnt something reflexive behind those criticisms that chiefly took the form of jeremiads about how evangelization is supposed to be all about personal human encounter and companionship, and how this chatbot is somehow what one writer called a delegation of the Christian duty to share the Gospel. Granted, sharing the Gospel requires more than the mere sharing of information; on the other hand, however, the sharing of information is an inextricable entailment of the process. And here we do well to recall the Thomistic principle that whatever is received is received according to the manner of the receiver.

It is not uncommon in the work of evangelization to encounter those people who much prefer a hands-off, self-guided approach to studying the faith, people who would sooner read a book on their own than attend a book discussion group. Indeed, many of us, if we can imagine that the shoe was on the other foot, might opt for this kind of path as being at least less awkward than the alternative. Suppose a Watchtower Society or LDS missionary came to the door of an unchurched but open-minded individual. The homeowner might be very genuinely inclined to take the missionarys propositions seriously and give the matter some serious thought. But, at the same time, he might also strongly prefer just taking whatever literature or pamphlet is on offer over the prospect of having a potentially uncomfortable conversation with a stranger on the doorstep.

The bottom line is that its not difficult to imagine a market segment of those for whom a tool like this chatbot is really a preferred way to gain a more comprehensive introduction to the intellectual content of the Faith. The popularity of other large language model (LLM) resources itself suggests this. All Catholic Answers version does is offer information to a certain subset of people in the manner in which they might most prefer to engage it.

In other words, for them, this resource is precisely the mode of accompaniment they need, and its provision is born from having simply followed the first rule of effective encounternamely, actually having listened to what someone is seeking from that encounter.

There is nothing new about emergent technologies and strategies being tested in evangelization. Stained glass, question-and-answer catechisms, casuistic manuals, vademecums, and so many other examples may be cited. In all of these cases, the integration of new means and methods was achieved by striking the right balance amidst possible tensions. A stained glass window could only capture the basics of the story of the Annunciation; it couldnt replace the actual reading of the narrative from Luke. The pat answer in the printed manual possibly lacked in some points the leavening of wisdom possessed by the priest sitting in the box.

The new technology of AI neednt be in conflict with the work of evangelists and catechists engaging people face-to-face. It can never provideand in the instant circumstance never sought to providethe ineluctable gift of human touch or the spark of true soulful empathy. Rather than trying to break these new tools for a moment of internet fame, perhaps our time would be better spent trying to make the technology better, and helping articulate its limitations in a productive way. This would help ensure that this tool, like any other tool, remains properly understood as an augmentary aid and not a replacement for the human element, firmly situated in integral and balanced tension with the virtues and skills no machine can ever mimic.

If you value the news and views Catholic World Report provides, please consider donating to support our efforts. Your contribution will help us continue to make CWR available to all readers worldwide for free, without a subscription. Thank you for your generosity!

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We need some real perspective on AI and evangelization - Catholic World Report

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella announces a $2.2 billion investment to advance new cloud and AI infrastructure in Malaysia during the Microsoft Build: AI Day on May 02, 2024 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images for Microsoft.

Read this in Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.

Investment includes building digital infrastructure, creating AI skilling opportunities, establishing a national AI Centre of Excellence, and enhancing the nations cybersecurity capabilities

Kuala Lumpur, May 2, 2024 Today, Microsoft announced it will invest US$2.2 billion over the next four years to support Malaysias digital transformation the single largest investment in its 32-year history in the country.

Microsofts investment includes:

The investment demonstrates Microsofts commitment to developing Malaysia as a hub forcloud computingand related advanced technologies, including generative AI. This will support the nations productivity, competitiveness, resilience, and economic growth.

We are committed to supporting Malaysias AI transformation and ensure it benefits all Malaysians, said Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft. Our investments in digital infrastructure and skilling will help Malaysian businesses, communities, and developers apply the latest technology to drive inclusive economic growth and innovation across the country.

YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Abdul Aziz, Malaysias Minister of Investment, Trade & Industry said, Microsofts 32-year presence in Malaysia showcases a deep partnership built on trust. Indeed, Malaysias position as a vibrant tech investment destination is increasingly being recognized by world-recognized names due to our well-established semiconductor ecosystem, underscored by our value proposition that this is where global starts.

Microsofts development of essential cloud and AI infrastructure, together with AI skilling opportunities, will significantly enhance Malaysias digital capacity and further elevate our position in the global tech landscape. Together with Microsoft, we look forward to creating more opportunities for our SMEs and better-paying jobs for our people, as we ride the AI revolution to fast-track Malaysias digitally empowered growth journey.

We are honored to collaborate with the government to support their National AI Framework, which enhances the countrys global competitiveness. This strategic emphasis on AI not only boosts economic growth but also promotes inclusivity by bridging the digital divide and ensuring everyone gets a seat at the table, so every Malaysian can thrive in this new digital world. As a result, Malaysia is steadily establishing itself as a regional hub for digital innovation and smart technologies, embodying a forward-thinking approach that prioritizes sustainable development and societal well-being through digital transformation, said Andrea Della Mattea, President of Microsoft ASEAN.

Expanding Malaysias digital capacity to seize AI opportunities

The digital infrastructure investment builds on Microsofts Bersama Malaysia (Together with Malaysia) initiative, announced in April 2021, to support inclusive economic growth. This included plans to establish the companys first datacenter region in the country.

The investment announced today will enable Microsoft to meet the growing demand for cloud computing services in Malaysia. It will also allow Malaysia to capitalize on the significant economic and productivity opportunities presented by the latest AI technology.

According to research by Kearney, AI could contribute nearly US$1 trillion to Southeast Asias gross domestic product (GDP) by 2030, with Malaysia poised to capture US$115 billion of this amount.

Equipping people with skills to thrive in the AI era

On Tuesday, Microsoft announced a broader commitment to provide AI skilling opportunities for 2.5 million people in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states by 2025. This training and support will be delivered in partnership with governments, nonprofit and business organizations, and communities in Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Microsofts skilling commitment is expected to benefit 200,000 people in Malaysia by providing:

The commitment builds on Microsofts other recent skilling activities in Malaysia, including its success in providing digital skills to more than 1.53 million Malaysians as part of the Bersama Malaysia initiative.

Partnering with government to strengthen AI and cybersecurity capabilities

Microsoft will continue to partner with the Government of Malaysia to enhance the nations digital ecosystem through several initiatives. These include establishing a national AI Centre of Excellence in collaboration with agencies in Malaysias Ministry of Digital to drive AI adoption across key industries, while ensuring AI governance and regulatory compliance. They also include pioneering AI adoption in the public sector through projects with:

Microsoft will also collaborate with the National Cyber Security Agency of Malaysia (NACSA) through the Perisai Siber (Cyber Shield) initiative to enhance the countrys cybersecurity capabilities. The collaboration will focus on promoting security and resilience in the public sector through security assessments and capacity building.

In addition, Microsoft will look to support NACSA in its role as Malaysias lead agency for cybersecurity matters, as it formulates the next stage of the nations cybersecurity strategy. The two organizations will also explore deeper collaborations in developing cybersecurity skills through initiatives such as Microsofts Ready4AI&Security program.

Empowering developers to harness AIs potential

Microsoft will continue to help foster the growth of Malaysias developer community through new initiatives such as AI Odyssey, which is expected to help 2,000 Malaysian developers become AI subject matter experts by learning new skills and earning Microsoft credentials.

Malaysia is a rapidly growing market on GitHub, the Microsoft-owned software development, collaboration, and innovation platform. Almost 680,000 of the nations developers used GitHub in 2023, representing 28 percent year-on-year growth.

Furthermore, many Malaysian organizations are boosting their productivity and accelerating innovation using Microsofts generative AI-powered solutions. For example:

To learn more about Satya Nadellas visit and how Microsoft is empowering organizations in the ASEAN region with AI, visit news.microsoft.com/malaysia-visit-2024.

Leadership statements

YB Rafizi Ramli, Minister of Economy

The advent of ChatGPT created a new vertical in the startup world. As more companies embrace the power of AI, having the right digital infrastructure in Malaysia is key to future-proofing our nations economy. Microsofts investment will help accelerate the adoption of generative AI, building a pipeline of AI-driven startups, and benefitting our economy through increased productivity and higher wages.

YB Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital

As a nation, we are focused on accelerating digitalization and fostering a culture of innovation alongside technological advancement to level the playing field for all Malaysians to prosper in an inclusive digital economy. Microsofts investment is a significant step in our journey towards becoming a digitally inclusive society. It underscores the importance of partnership in driving nationwide digital transformation and reinforces our commitment to equipping Malaysians with the infrastructure, advanced tools, and skills they need to thrive in the digital age.

YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications

Microsofts significant investment in Malaysia recognises and supports the governments efforts in building an inclusive digital ecosystem for the country. We are excited to continue partnering with technology leaders like Microsoft to foster a space where Malaysians can seamlessly connect, learn, and benefit from our nations digital transformation.

YB Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology & Innovation

Todays investment by Microsoft exemplifies a dynamic public-private partnership aimed at enhancing the socio-economic status and quality of life in Malaysian communities. As we embrace AIs potential, we commend Microsofts commitment to responsible AI, which aligns with our vision for advancing technology in Malaysia responsibly and inclusively.

Laurence Si, Managing Director, Microsoft Malaysia

With rising demand for Cloud and AI, Microsofts investment announced today underscores our commitment to building a robust digital ecosystem in the country. From driving more innovations born in Malaysia, to fostering an ecosystem of skilled talents and enhancing cybersecurity capabilities for Malaysian organizations, we are dedicated to our role as a trusted technology partner to the nation.

Mr. Sikh Shamsul Ibrahim Sikh Abdul Majid, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

We are excited to deepen our partnership with Microsoft as they strengthen their commitment by establishing a cloud and AI infrastructure and supporting our vibrant developer community in Malaysia. This strategic collaboration underscores our dedication to innovation and regional industry growth. By leveraging Microsofts expertise, we aim to accelerate economic development, create jobs, and enhance industry competitiveness through digital transformation. We believe we can achieve more together and further advance our partnership. This investment not only reinforces Malaysias position as a leading digital hub but also marks a promising start in attracting more companies to embark on this digital journey with us, promoting inclusive growth and prosperity nationwide.

Ir. Dr. Megat Zuhairy Megat Tajuddin, Chief Executive Officer, National Cyber Security Agency (NACSA)

Microsofts collaboration with NACSA on Perisai Siber is pivotal as one of our strategic partnerships with industry players in establishing a secure digital infrastructure for our nation. Together, our goal is to bolster security and resilience, beginning with the public sector, to ultimately strengthen the nations cybersecurity capabilities.

Ts. Mahadhir Aziz, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC)

Microsofts commitment to Malaysia demonstrates confidence in our nations digital future. Through this investment in cloud and AI infrastructure, local organizations can tap into more opportunities to upscale and innovate, further propelling Malaysias aspirations for regional leadership in the digital economy.

About Microsoft

Microsoft (Nasdaq MSFT @microsoft) creates platforms and tools powered by AI to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our customers. The technology company is committed to making AI available broadly and doing so responsibly, with a mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Tags: AI, Cloud, digital skills

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Microsoft announces US$2.2 billion investment to fuel Malaysia's cloud and AI transformation - Microsoft Stories Asia - Microsoft