Ecosystm, in collaboration with Red Hat and supported by the National AI Office Malaysia (NAIO), has released a new study exploring Malaysia’s ambition to become an artificial intelligence (AI) leader. The whitepaper, Accelerating SME AI Adoption Through Open Source in Malaysia’s Digital Future, examines how open source technologies are helping Malaysian businesses embrace artificial intelligence (AI) in a more affordable, flexible, and scalable way. 

Malaysia’s AI vision is driven by a strong national commitment and the desire to position itself as a regional leader in innovation. Yet, realising this vision depends on empowering SMEs, which make up the backbone of the nation’s economy. For many of these organisations, AI adoption remains challenging due to limited technical expertise, resource constraints, and uncertainty about measurable outcomes. 

Open source is emerging as a powerful solution to these challenges. By lowering entry barriers, encouraging experimentation, and enabling customisation for local needs, open source tools allow SMEs to build and scale AI capabilities at their own pace. This approach not only supports cost-effective adoption but also fosters long-term digital resilience and innovation. 

Collaboration will be central to achieving this transformation. Close cooperation between government, academia, start-ups, and industry players can help create shared frameworks, accessible data resources, and sector-specific toolkits that make AI adoption more practical for SMEs. When supported by strong leadership and a clear strategy, such partnerships can accelerate Malaysia’s journey towards inclusive and sustainable AI growth. 

Ecosystm’s whitepaper delves into these insights, offering practical guidance on how Malaysia can harness open source to build an equitable and future-ready AI ecosystem. 

Click below to download or read the full Report

This link directs you to the NAIO Website.