Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is set to do something very rare for a world leader: meet the public in the form of an AI version of himself. Bloomberg reports.
According to reports by American media on July 10, this virtual avatar was developed by Malaysia's digital infrastructure company Zetrix AI. It is named PMX AI, which echoes Anwar's role as the tenth Prime Minister of Malaysia. The AI is expected to make its debut within a few days.
PMX AI is trained based on Anwar's own writings, speeches, and government policy records. Therefore, both in appearance and voice, it closely resembles the individual itself. It can also converse with users fluently in English and Malay.
This project aims to enhance government interaction with the public and increase participation in ‘Prime Minister interactions with citizens’. In practice, citizens will be able to handle government affairs through conversations with PMX AI, such as updating driver’s licenses, obtaining payment links, confirming transaction completion, and being automatically directed to subsequent steps.
The Prime Minister's Office has produced promotional videos to hype up the release of PMX AI. In the videos, Anwar sometimes appears as an astronaut, sometimes as a superhero wearing a cloak, and there is even a character resembling Neo from the movie "The Matrix".
The video narration says: "In reality, no leader can be present everywhere all the time. This is not just an incarnation of myself, but also a digital extension of me, ready to listen, assist, and serve the people at any moment."
According to reports, this initiative was proposed and promoted by the People’s Justice Party led by Anwar, with the goal of using AI to innovate political interactions and public service models.
Zetrix Group's managing director told Bloomberg that AI will completely change the way countries are governed and the political landscape. He revealed that Zetrix has developed a 'personal knowledge' model, which continuously incorporates the latest speeches and public remarks of Anwar, thereby improving its capabilities through real-time interaction. This makes PMX AI more closely aligned with its thinking and communication styles, making interactions with the public more realistic.
Bloomberg reports that the PMX AI project aligns with the image Anwar is trying to create in Malaysia, where national elections are approaching. He is portrayed as a leader who is enthusiastic about AI and digital investments, and who is committed to transforming the country into a society with high-value-added jobs. This move also helps to enhance his image among young voters, giving him a better chance of winning their votes in the elections.
