The AI Boom – Food for Thought
On Saturday, 17 October 2026, our Managing Director, Amir Isyam Abdul Rahim, published his latest Policy & Profit column in The Star titled “The AI Boom – Food for Thought”.
As Malaysia works towards becoming an AI nation by 2030, much of the focus has been on investments in digital infrastructure, technology and workforce readiness. However, the article raises an equally important question: Are we paying enough attention to developing the human capabilities needed to support these ambitions?
Drawing on Malaysia’s triple burden of malnutrition, including childhood anaemia, stunting and obesity, Amir explores how nutrition and early childhood development influence the country’s long-term human capital. These challenges extend beyond public health, with implications for cognitive development, workforce productivity and the ability of future generations to adapt to technological change.
Ultimately, preparing Malaysia for an AI-driven future must begin long before the next generation enters the workforce.
📖 Read the full article in The Star:
https://www.thestar.com.my/business/insight/2026/10/17/the-ai-boom—food-for-thought
🔗 Or catch Amir’s reflections on LinkedIn here:
#PolicyAndProfit #policy #business #economics #ArtificialIntelligence #HumanCapital #Nutrition #Malaysia
UNICEF Malaysia | Kementerian Digital | Ministry Of Health, Malaysia (KKM) | Ministry of Education Malaysia | AI Malaysia | World Health Organization | The National Institutes of Health | Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development
