KUALA LUMPUR: More than half of 1.3 million participants under the 'AI Untuk Rakyat' programme are women, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
Since its inception January this year, he said the online programme, that aims to provide basic artificial intelligence (AI) awareness to the people, also sparked interest in youths to consider the technology as a field of study.
"In 9 months, 52 per cent of those who registered are women. That, to me, is encouraging, and I hope it is reflective of the growing interest in tech," he said at the Women in Tech (WIT) APAC Summit here today.
Also present at the event was Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) chief executive officer Anuar Fariz Fadzil and WIT Global Malysia country director Yuki Aizawa.
Gobind further said that his ministry, through MDEC, has iniated campaigns to encourage more young girls and women totake an interest and be part of the technology and digital world, namely #GirlsInICT and #MyGirlsCan 2023.
"These programmes exemplify the dedication to empowering young women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in the tech sphere."
"Beyond schools, I encourage more women to participate in Malaysia's booming digital scene. For example, the soon-to-be launched National AI Office is currently looking for qualified individuals to fill several key positions," he said.
Recognising women's roles in the the tech industry, Gobind said it is important to be mindful of their needs and create an environment that will help retain women in the workforce.
"This means creating policies that offer flexibility, equal opportunities for career advancement, and work cultures that are inclusive and free from bias," he said.
Later at a press conference, Gobind said the National AI Office, set to launch at the end of November, will be a platform to outline specific initiatives that can help all sectors including women.
He said the memorandum of cooperation signed by WIT and MDEC today, will allow the government to delve into the challenges faced by women and identify the measures needed to help and overcome those problems.
"I hope that when this National AI Office is established, we can discuss the policies that will be created to overcome this problem."
"The partnership between WIT and MDEC is an initiative where we will bring more discussions about how we can help each other to strengthen the role of women in this field," he said.