Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, the Malaysian Home Minister, has urged security agencies to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) to improve productivity. However, experts are expressing concerns regarding the rush to implement these technologies. Defence analyst Lam Choong Wah from Universiti Malaya highlighted significant risks associated with reliance on foreign AI solutions, particularly in handling sensitive data, emphasizing the potential for data leakage.
Lam cautioned that the accuracy and reliability of current AI systems are uncertain, advocating for a cautious approach in integrating AI into security measures. He suggested that such tools should serve as references rather than definitive answers, especially in high-stakes environments. Despite acknowledging the availability of AI tools that could assist with enforcement, he predicted that it may take a minimum of five years for effective widespread adoption in the security sector.
Earlier this month, Saifuddin urged agencies to leverage generative AI for tasks like data analysis and document drafting. This initiative has been supported by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), which sees potential in AI for enhancing operational efficiency. Meanwhile, cybersecurity experts have advised against using China’s AI chatbot, Deepseek, within sensitive government departments due to concerns over data security.