DestinaAsia

Tag: #ArtificialIntelligence

  • Snowflake Enables Secure and Localised Enterprise AI with ILMU Integration

    Snowflake, the AI Data Cloud company, has announced the integration of ILMU — Malaysia’s homegrown sovereign large language model (LLM) developed by YTL AI Labs — into its platform, enabling organisations in Malaysia to run generative AI on governed enterprise data through Snowflake’s secure governance framework. The integration is further supported by Snowflake’s availability on the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region, allowing secure, in-country deployment of enterprise AI capabilities.

    The move positions Snowflake among the first global AI and data cloud providers to support integration with a locally developed sovereign LLM within a fully in-country deployment. This enables enterprises to accelerate AI adoption while continuing to meet strict data governance and residency requirements.

    Through the integration, enterprises gain access to a sovereign LLM specifically trained on Malaysian linguistic nuances and cultural contexts. This strengthens Snowflake’s AI capabilities with improved understanding of Bahasa Melayu, Manglish and regional dialects, enabling more accurate interpretation of locally contextualised enterprise data. Organisations are therefore able to derive greater value from their data by developing AI-driven applications that are more relevant, accurate and locally attuned, without compromising performance or scalability.

    By operating ILMU within Snowflake’s governed environment, sensitive data remains securely managed under Snowflake’s established security framework. This enables organisations to adopt AI while ensuring proprietary data remains within national borders and under full governance controls. The capability is particularly important for regulated sectors such as the public sector, financial services, telecommunications and retail, where data governance and residency requirements are critical.

    The collaboration reflects growing demand among Malaysian enterprises for AI solutions that align with local data governance requirements while supporting broader national ambitions to strengthen Malaysia’s position in the global AI economy.

    “With Malaysia’s RM2 billion Sovereign AI Cloud commitment underscoring data localisation as a national priority, organisations need AI solutions they can trust to keep their data onshore,” said Satchit Joglekar, Regional Vice President, Snowflake ASEAN. “With Snowflake now available in the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region and the integration of ILMU into our platform, we are giving Malaysian enterprises the confidence to adopt AI securely within their enterprise data environment, in the language their customers speak, without compromising governance or compliance.”

    Foong Chee Mun, CEO of YTL AI Labs, said the integration of the ILMU sovereign LLM with the Snowflake environment marks a significant milestone in localising high-performance AI. He noted that YTL AI Labs has focused on building the sovereign infrastructure required to power such workloads, and that enabling seamless access to Malaysia’s national language model through a secure global platform like Snowflake would ensure Malaysian enterprises can deploy AI solutions that are culturally relevant, legally compliant and hosted within Malaysia.

    The ILMU integration and Snowflake’s presence in the AWS Asia Pacific (Malaysia) region come at a time when enterprise use cases in Malaysia are increasingly evolving into practical applications of governed AI.

    “At Ryt Bank, our priority is to provide secure and innovative financial services that truly serve Malaysian customers,” said Nic Ngoo, Chief Technology Officer of Ryt Bank. “YTL AI Labs provides ILMU — a sovereign, locally built LLM and AI services that allow our bank to build the world’s first AI-powered bank that redefines the banking experience. With ILMU and Snowflake’s in-country deployment, our customers can bank using natural, culturally nuanced language for everything from transferring money and seeking personalised financial advice to seamless customer support, while ensuring the highest standards of data residency and governance.”

    Among the early adopters is property developer S P Setia Bhd (Setia), which recently received a Malaysia Technology Excellence Award for its AI innovations in the real estate sector, including AI sales agents and AI vision-based inspection solutions.

    “As one of the nation’s leading property developers, Setia has long been entrusted with shaping communities that reflect the values, aspirations and way of life of Malaysians,” said Datuk Zaini Yusoff, President and Chief Executive Officer of Setia. “This integration represents a strategic milestone in how we elevate the property journey through personalisation and innovation. By leveraging Snowflake’s local data infrastructure and AI capabilities built for the Malaysian market, we look forward to continuously improving how we engage with customers in language that feels natural and familiar across every touchpoint — from home discovery to property management — while reinforcing the trust that underpins our long-standing leadership in the industry.”

    Snowflake is a platform designed for the AI era, helping enterprises innovate faster and unlock greater value from data. More than 13,300 customers worldwide, including hundreds of the world’s largest companies, use Snowflake’s AI Data Cloud to build, use and share data, applications and AI solutions. Further information is available at snowflake.com (NYSE: SNOW).

  • The Role of 5.5G and AI in Urban Transformation: Shaping the Future of Smart Cities

    The Role of 5.5G and AI in Urban Transformation: Shaping the Future of Smart Cities

    At the Global Mobile Broadband Forum 2024 (MBBF 2024) in Istanbul, Türkiye, global leaders, network providers, and technology experts came together to discuss the powerful potential of 5.5G technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in modern urban landscapes. Themed “5.5G Leads the Mobile AI Era,” the forum showcased how the combination of next-gen connectivity and intelligent systems can drive the evolution of smart cities, ultimately shaping more efficient, resilient, and responsive urban environments.

    With the rise of 5.5G, which brings significantly higher speeds and capacity over its predecessor, smart cities can now connect and manage an even greater number of devices while seamlessly processing real-time data through AI. These advancements enable smart cities to achieve more refined data analytics across essential city services like traffic management, public safety, and environmental monitoring.

    Ken Hu, Huawei’s Rotating Chairman, emphasized how AI will empower urban networks by driving efficiency and responsiveness. He stated, “AI’s impact on our cities will be transformative, making technology more accessible and adaptable for everyone.” At MBBF, this vision was brought to life through live demonstrations, where intelligent systems connected by 5.5G networks showed real-time monitoring and management of urban resources, setting the stage for more proactive and adaptive cities.

    With global cities facing growing challenges in energy efficiency and sustainability, the fusion of 5.5G and AI offers new ways to manage resources smartly. Forum attendees experienced hands-on demonstrations of applications like energy management systems powered by AI, which can identify real-time energy consumption patterns, predict peak usage, and optimize power distribution. By reducing waste and improving efficiency, these systems contribute to greener cities and lower overall costs for city management.

    AI also plays a key role in environmental monitoring, such as tracking air quality and pollution levels. In this way, cities can swiftly respond to environmental shifts, creating a healthier urban environment while minimizing environmental impact. With 5.5G connectivity, data from sensors across cities can be gathered and analyzed instantly, allowing for proactive measures based on live feedback.

    In the realm of public safety, AI-driven solutions supported by 5.5G have transformative potential. Cities can utilize intelligent systems, including 5.5G-connected surveillance, to streamline and reinforce emergency response. During MBBF 2024, Huawei showcased a scenario where drones equipped with AI provided real-time video and data to first responders, enhancing their ability to assess and react to emergencies quickly.

    The forum highlighted AI’s role in analyzing video feeds from security cameras, enabling faster identification of risks and improved coordination for emergency services. This responsiveness not only reduces reaction times but also enhances the safety of urban spaces by making real-time, intelligent responses a standard part of city management.

    Smart city initiatives increasingly focus on improving citizen engagement and the accessibility of public services. Thanks to AI-powered mobile applications and 5.5G’s reliable connectivity, cities can offer residents access to city services through centralized platforms on their devices, from checking transport schedules to reporting issues in real-time. The event’s interactive booths demonstrated how smart platforms can be used to communicate efficiently with residents, allowing for improved services based on immediate needs and feedback.

    A notable feature of these platforms is their ability to bridge language barriers with real-time translation, making city services more inclusive for multicultural populations. By giving residents personalized, direct access to services and information, AI-integrated platforms create more connected and responsive communities.

    Li Peng, Huawei’s Senior Vice President, spoke at MBBF 2024 about the immense potential in preparing cities for the “Mobile AI Era.” According to Peng, the path forward involves building network infrastructure with AI-ready capabilities that can support new levels of connectivity and innovation. Cities that focus on implementing high-performance networks and adopting AI will be well-positioned to support future demands for connected and intelligent environments.

    Peng also stressed the importance of industry collaboration in building these networks, as unified efforts between government, technology providers, and businesses are crucial for making the vision of smart cities a reality. By working together, stakeholders can create infrastructures that not only meet current technological demands but are also adaptable to future advancements.

    The insights shared at MBBF 2024 emphasize a transformative vision for urban life, where 5.5G and AI redefine the capabilities of cities around the world. From efficient resource management to enhanced security and citizen-focused services, these technologies are shaping cities into smarter, more adaptive spaces that prioritize the needs and well-being of their residents.

    As cities globally embrace the transition to intelligent connectivity, the partnership of 5.5G and AI will set the foundation for resilient and innovative smart cities. The forum made clear that with strategic planning, collaborative partnerships, and forward-thinking leadership, urban areas can fully realize the benefits of these powerful technologies, creating a future where intelligent cities thrive. For more information, please visit MBBF2024 at: https://www.huawei.com/en/events/mbbf2024.