Initiative overview
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a strategic capability for businesses, creating opportunities for greater competitiveness, innovation and sustainable growth while introducing new financial, operational, ethical and reputational risks. The Boardroom Primer for AI Adoption & Governance was developed by AI Malaysia to help Malaysian boards, directors and senior management navigate these opportunities and challenges through informed oversight of AI adoption and governance.
The Primer provides a practical reference for business leaders to understand AI-related opportunities and risks, assess whether AI use cases align with organisational purpose and risk appetite, and consider relevant ethical, legal and governance obligations. It sets out a structured approach to responsible AI adoption covering five stages: planning and design; solution pairing; organisational readiness; verification and validation; and deployment and monitoring.
The governance component further supports boards in considering AI risk, proportionality, accountability and oversight. It highlights the importance of aligning AI adoption with existing organisational governance and risk-management arrangements, including appropriate controls, human oversight, assurance, monitoring and escalation mechanisms. The Primer is intended to be adaptable across sectors and organisations of different sizes and stages of AI maturity.
Launched in July 2026, the Primer was prepared by AI Malaysia Berhad, Malaysia’s national AI lead agency (formerly known as the National AI Office Malaysia), with contributions from the National AI Office AI Advisory Working Group, which convened between February and June 2025, and feedback facilitated by the Institute of Corporate Directors Malaysia. It is designed as a living document that may be updated over time in response to developments in the AI landscape, including changes in technology, governance practices and the regulatory environment.
