Artificial Intelligence in Malaysia: How We’re Catching Up

Step aside, the 4^th industrial revolution is here! Building upon the digital revolution that started in the 1980s with computers and the Internet, we’re poised for seamless integration of technology into our everyday lives with artificial intelligence, robotics, the Internet of Things, and more.This shouldn’t be news – we’re already using artificial intelligence (AI) in one way or another. Think about Siri on your iPhone guaranteed $300 loan, or how Netflix makes recommendations based on movies you’ve watched.Malaysia isn’t at the top of anyone’s minds when it comes to AI, but we dug around and found some pretty interesting facts! 

Artificial Intelligence in Malaysia #1: Alibaba grants the ultimate Malaysian wish – reducing traffic!

This May, be prepared for Jack Ma to descend upon KL city with his magic touch. Alibaba Cloud Computing has collaborated with the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) on the City Brain project.

  This project will adapt the technology used in the Hangzhou (Alibaba’s HQ in China) City Brain, which has been touted to successfully increase traffic flow by 15%. The groundbreaking traffic management system also reported traffic violations with 92% accuracy and emergency vehicles were able to reach their destinations in half the time. This was done by “crunching data gathered from video footage, traffic bureaus, public transportation systems and mapping apps.”The traffic in Malaysia’s city centre is said to trap its 1.8 million population in 250 million hours of traffic, so this project is certainly welcome news.The Malaysian project will make use of Alibaba’s AI and big data analytics capabilities to “produce real-time traffic predictions using video and image recognition technologies.” As part of the process, 500 inner city cameras will be integrated with the system.Now, that’s our jam! 

Artificial Intelligence in Malaysia #2: Predicting and preventing dengue outbreaks

Artificial Intelligence and Medical Epidemiology (AIME – pronounced Amy) is a medical start-up based at the Ames Research Centre under NASA in the Silicon Valley. Research for a dengue prediction platform was initiated by epidemiologist Dr. Dhesi Raja, as well as computer scientists Dr. Peter Ho Chiung Ching and Dr. Ting Choo Yee, who are all Malaysians.

  The platform uses artificial intelligence that collects environmental and epidemiological information to make predictions, including public health data, time charts, historic mapping of diseases, rumour reports from social media, weather, and more.The platform has been tested in Malaysia and Brazil and it successfully predicted outbreaks 3 months in advance, with a 88.7% accuracy rate and 84.6% respectively.The team is currently working on an app that will be made available publicly, with funds raised on the crowdbacking platform webe.Mosquitos 0, humans 1. 

Artificial Intelligence in Malaysia #3: The stethoscope levels up

A collaboration between the Health Ministry, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida), Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST), and M3DICINE, and facilitated by the Telemedicine Development Group (TDG) led to the birth of Stethee, the world’s first AI-equipped stethoscope.

While Stethee has maintained the basic function of the traditional stethoscope, it also features amplification and filtering technology that makes listening to heart and lung sounds easier.Medical practitioners can now come up with detailed and accurate analyses from this simple device in 20 seconds. The AI engine, named Aida (Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics), automatically tags location and environmental data such as humidity, temperature, and the pollutant index. All these data are analysed and collated for doctors to better diagnose patients. 

Bonus: You’ve been served…by robots!

Not quite artificial intelligence, but we’re pretty excited about the use of robotics in Malaysia too! Nam Heong made the news in January this year, though not for its culinary dishes. The kopitiam has recently employed 10 new members of wait staff, who aren’t quite human.

  They were imported from China for almost RM20,000 and have been programmed to speak English and Chinese. 8 are already in operation in the Ipoh Soho outlet, while 2 will be stationed at Da Men mall in Subang.The robots function as a food delivery system at the moment, but we won’t be surprised if one day it’ll be able to make recommendations based on your eating habits or even prepare your meals! ***To learn more about artificial intelligence, head over to the Study UK Malaysia exhibition for a free seminar on 3 March 2018 on the applications of AI and big data in keeping your loved one alive forever in the virtual space, ala that Black Mirror episode.There is also a seminar on 4 March 2018 how AI can be used in the judicial courts, where Dr. Richard Cornes of the University of Essex will talk about the feasibility of AI playing a role as the judge, and whether AI can develop a conscience.Admission to the entire exhibition is free, but online pre-registration is highly recommended – attendees stand a chance to win a ticket for a round trip to London!Click here for the full list of seminars. Займ на карту онлайн.