INTEL Malaysia is set to play a significant role at the ‘AI Horizon – Shaping the Future with Penang’s Talent’, which will take place at Setia SPICE Arena on Aug 8 and 9, with a strong focus on innovation, talent development, and responsible AI practices.
As one of the event’s sponsors, Intel will demonstrate its latest AI-driven technologies and engage participants actively through competitions and knowledge-sharing sessions.
“We will be showcasing a variety of AI-related use cases and end products in collaboration with our esteemed partners,” said Ewe Kok Howg, Senior Director of Software Engineering at Intel’s Edge Computing Group.
“In addition, we are proud to co-organise the AI Genius Competition under the theme ‘AI for Impact: Enhancing Lives and Building a Better Malaysia’ for young engineers, university students, and secondary school students.”
Winners of the competition will gain entry into the Intel AI Global Impact Festival, a prestigious global platform for innovative AI projects.
Intel will showcase open-source solutions, including Intel OpenVINO for efficient AI model inference and Intel Geti for computer vision model training. These tools are designed to accelerate AI development and deployment, particularly in vision-related applications and Generative AI projects, offering developers flexibility and efficiency.
Ewe highlighted Malaysia’s critical role in Intel’s global operations, describing the country as “a vibrant design and manufacturing hub” that continues to drive innovation in AI workloads across data centres, cloud, edge, and network environments.
To support talent development, Intel has forged long-term collaborations with local universities and government agencies. Among its key initiatives:
- Awarding Intel Advanced Packaging Research Grants to USM and UniMAP, enabling research in advanced electronic packaging.
- Collaborating with USM to develop a flagship elective course on Advanced Packaging, launched in 2023/2024, which saw its student intake double in 2025.
- Funding USM to upgrade its microprocessor lab with the latest computing hardware.
These initiatives are aligned with Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy, aimed at addressing the industry’s talent needs.
In addition, Intel signed a two-year MoU with MMU in October 2024 to drive innovation, develop AI-skilled professionals, and enhance both organisations’ reputations as AI leaders.
Further extending its impact, Intel collaborated with MyDIGITAL Corporation to introduce the AI Untuk Rakyat (“AI for Citizens”) programme, which has reached over one million Malaysians since its launch by the Prime Minister in January 2024.
At the state level, Intel enabled the creation of a 5G Digital School Library in Penang, giving thousands of K-12 students access to AI-powered digital learning resources through an on-premise edge solution.
“These initiatives align closely with Malaysia’s National Semiconductor Strategy and Intel’s commitment to nurturing the next generation of AI innovators,” said Ewe.
Ewe stressed that Intel is committed to responsible and ethical AI, guided by its Responsible AI Framework, and supported by programmes such as AI for Future Workforce, which equips the next generation with sustainable AI skills for the digital economy.
“AI is an incredibly powerful technology with untold potential, but we must ensure it advances responsibly,” Ewe explained. “At Intel, we work with industry, academia, and global leaders to shape technology for the future, creating possibilities that bring out the best in humanity.”
Intel continues to deliver energy-efficient AI infrastructure, offering a comprehensive portfolio of AI-optimised processors and accelerators, combined with model optimisation tools to accelerate performance and reduce energy consumption.
Intel Malaysia is leveraging its five-decade presence in Penang to generate opportunities for local businesses, startups, and universities in the rapidly expanding artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
“Our long-standing operations in Penang create opportunities for local engineering firms to develop specialised expertise, universities to advance R&D, and startups to leverage proximity to cutting-edge AI product development,” Ewe said.
Asked to highlight any success stories, Ewe mentioned that the Intel AI Global Impact Festival, part of our Digital Readiness initiative, has become an incredible platform for showcasing AI innovations by youth and students worldwide.
“I am thrilled to share that student and youth teams from Malaysia have been recognised for their unique AI projects and groundbreaking contributions for the last three years. In 2024, Malaysian teams won at the global level with innovative AI Projects addressing wastage, dementia, and child allergies. This year, we are also inviting all students to participate in Intel AI Global Impact Festival via the AI Horizon event,” he said.
These success stories underscore Intel’s comprehensive approach to AI, which goes beyond technology to focus on talent development, educational partnerships, and real-world applications.
He added that these achievements reflect Intel’s approach as both a technology provider and an ecosystem enabler, fostering local skills, innovation, and practical AI applications that create real impact.
Ewe also shared a message for young talents and innovators attending AI Horizon 2025:
“In a world where AI is reshaping every industry, the most valuable asset isn’t the technology itself, but the creative minds who can envision its most meaningful applications. Don’t just witness the AI revolution – lead it.
“The technologies shown today will shape the world you’ll inherit tomorrow. The connections you make, the ideas you share, and the inspiration you gain will compound over your entire career.”
Pix by Law Suun Ting