PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30 — The AI for the People Programme will be launched in stages from Aug 31 through the new Rakyat Digital portal, with 100,000 Malaysian youths aged 18 to 30 targeted to benefit from free access to selected artificial intelligence (AI) tools until 2027.

The programme was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today as one of six measures for the people during his 2026 National Day Address at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC).

The initiative aims to expand digital opportunities for Malaysian youths while strengthening their knowledge, skills and confidence in using AI technology responsibly.

Rakyat Digital is the country’s digital learning portal, an initiative of the Digital Ministry led by MyDIGITAL Corporation.

Digital Ministry secretary-general Datuk Fabian Bigar said the programme was an important step in ensuring youths not only understand AI technology but also have access to AI tools that can support learning, creativity and productivity.

“Through this initiative, we want to ensure that the benefits of AI can be experienced more widely and inclusively, in line with the government’s aspiration to build a digitally literate society that is prepared for the future,” he said.

The programme is offered free to Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 30 through the Rakyat Digital portal, subject to completion of the prescribed modules.

The modules cover six areas:

• AI Nation 2030: MADANI Approach;
• CYBERSAFE for the People;
• Generative AI;
• AI Safety;
• Agentic AI for Everyone; and
• Cloud for the People.

Participants who successfully complete and pass all the prescribed modules will receive three months of free subscriptions to selected AI applications and software.

As an initial offering, eligible participants will receive access to AI tools from local and international technology providers, namely YTL AI Labs’ IlmuChat, Alibaba’s Wonderclip and MuleRun, and Google’s Gemini Enterprise.

The government said more AI software and tools from other technology companies would be added progressively to further enhance participants’ learning experience.

The initiative will provide youths with opportunities to explore advanced AI technologies in practical settings while improving their creativity, productivity and digital skills.

The programme reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that advances in AI technology can be accessed and utilised more widely by Malaysians, particularly youths.

It is also in line with Malaysia’s aspiration to develop an inclusive AI nation by 2030 under the Malaysia Digital 2030 (MD2030) agenda.

Malaysians aged 18 to 30 can register and begin their AI learning journey through the Rakyat Digital portal at rakyatdigital.gov.my.