Nine in 10 workers may feel unprepared for AI as PEOPLElogy launches National AI Readiness Week to get 5 million Malaysians ready by 2030

Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo is briefed on the I'm AI READY initiative by Allen Lee, Founder and Managing Director of PEOPLElogy Berhad. — Picture courtesy of PEOPLElogy Berhad

By Malay Mail

First Published: Monday, 05 Oct 2026 9:48 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 5 — Malaysia’s artificial intelligence (AI) ambitions are running up against a hard reality: the country is short of more than 500,000 AI-skilled workers, a gap large enough to threaten the RM50 billion in economic potential its AI economy is projected to unlock by 2030.

The shortfall goes beyond numbers. Various workplace studies show that, depending on the sector, as many as nine in 10 Malaysian employees feel inadequately trained to work alongside AI — leaving a significant share of that projected economic output at risk of never being realised.

In a media release, assessments by agencies such as TalentCorp have also warned that hundreds of thousands of existing roles — often cited at around 700,000 — are highly vulnerable to displacement or significant task shifts driven by AI, automation and digitalisation unless aggressive reskilling takes place.

The gap underscores a critical mismatch between traditional education pipelines and the specialised digital skills that modern industries demand.

PEOPLElogy Bhd, which describes itself as Southeast Asia’s first publicly listed digital workforce transformation company, is stepping in to help close that gap.

The company has launched National AI Readiness Week 2026 (NAIRW 2026), a five-day national platform to be held from November 12 to 18 across two venues in the Klang Valley.

NAIRW 2026 is the flagship national platform of the “I’m AI Ready” movement, a 36-month national drive launched on June 19 this year to get 5 million Malaysians to declare their AI readiness by 2030. The week is intended to bring the movement to life through large-scale public engagement, in line with the country’s broader digital economy agenda.

“We are launching National AI Readiness Week right now because the AI industry stands at a critical crossroads: while the immense economic potential of artificial intelligence is scaling rapidly, our workforce faces a widening gap between passive awareness and actual capability,” said PEOPLElogy founder and managing director Allen Lee in the media statement. 

“Success for us is clear — we are driving toward 5 million public AI readiness declarations by 2030, ensuring that through verified assessments, active mastery scholarships, and unified commitments from boardrooms and businesses, the digital economy grows with no one left behind.”

Allen Lee, Founder and Managing Director of PEOPLElogy Berhad, says National AI Readiness Week 2026 aims to move Malaysians from AI awareness to real job-ready skills. — Picture courtesy of PEOPLElogy Berhad

Momentum building

The company said the movement is already gaining traction, with more than 9,100 Malaysians having declared their AI readiness as of end-September, against a target of 50,000 by the end of 2026.

More than 800 delegates have registered to attend NAIRW 2026, while the Asia AI Excellence Awards have drawn more than 200 nominations.

Three audiences, one movement

Rather than running as a single-track conference, NAIRW 2026 is deliberately structured around three distinct audiences, with the aim of moving the whole economy forward together rather than in isolated pockets.

The I’m AI READY Summit, from November 12 to 14, is aimed at SMEs, entrepreneurs, students and the wider workforce, offering practical scaling support, baseline AI-readiness assessments and personalised upskilling roadmaps.

The Build a Future Team (BAFT) Leaders Conference, on November 17 and 18, shifts the focus to corporate, human resources and government leaders, tackling organisational readiness and future-team strategy.

“The week is intentionally designed to connect the boardroom with the Rakyat simultaneously, ensuring that leadership frameworks, small business execution and individual workforce upskilling align so no one is left behind,” the organisers said.

The week will close with the Asia AI Excellence Awards, a regional gala recognising organisations that are driving measurable AI impact. Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo is scheduled to present the awards.

Excitement fills the room as hundreds of Malaysians gather for the launch of the I'm AI READY movement, many keen to find out how artificial intelligence will shape their jobs and careers. — Picture courtesy of PEOPLElogy Berhad

RM3m in AI Mastery Scholarships

Backing the movement with direct investment, PEOPLElogy is offering RM3 million in AI Mastery Scholarships to support Malaysians in upskilling in AI.

To draw more Malaysians into the movement, the company has also opened a nationwide contest offering an iPhone 18 Pro Max (512GB) as the daily prize on each day of the I’m AI READY Summit, from November 12 to 14.

Entrants must take the “Find Out Your AI Personality” quiz — the same assessment used for an official AI-readiness declaration — before registering to attend NAIRW 2026.

The movement is run in collaboration with MyDIGITAL Corporation, in line with the government’s broader digital economy agenda and efforts to strengthen the country’s pipeline of AI-ready talent.

NAIRW 2026 is the movement’s first edition, with a second edition targeted for the second quarter of 2027 as part of PEOPLElogy’s 36-month commitment to reach its goal of 5 million Malaysians.

More information and registration details are available at imaiready.asia.