The Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur 2025 concludes today, but is expected to spark several new initiatives, including the Asean AI Cities Network.
Speaking at the City Leaders’ Roundtable Forum held on the sidelines of the Expo at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre earlier today, Malaysia’s Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said cities in Southeast Asia are at the forefront of progress.
He invited city mayors and leaders to co-create the Asean Artificial Intelligence (AI) Cities Network where leaders would identify priority collaboration areas, develop an AI Cities playbook, and pilot AI solutions that could later be scaled regionally.
Nearly 30 city mayors and leaders from Southeast Asia took part in the discussion.
MoUs signed, partnerships formed
The three-day expo, which started on Sept 17, also saw the inking of several initiatives. Three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and one Letter of Collaboration were exchanged on Sept 18.
The first MoU, between Digital Nasional Berhad (DNB) and Ericsson, was for the 21st Century Technologies Education Programme. It aims to upskill civil servants in local councils and public agencies with practical knowledge in AI, 5G, and the Internet of Things.
The second was a Letter of Collaboration between DNB and Amazon Web Services (AWS) to co-develop a national AI Cities platform, integrating cloud infrastructure, machine learning, and advanced data analytics to enable real-time urban operations and predictive decision-making.
Another MoU was signed between DNB, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), and the Malaysian Smart City Alliance Association (MSCA), to establish joint frameworks and standards for AI Cities in Malaysia, guiding the integration of technology into daily life, enhancing mobility systems, digital citizen services, and sustainable urban solutions.
The final MoU, between MDEC and Dell Technologies’ AI Innovation Hub, was to establish a testbed for climate AI prediction in Penang’s Unesco World Heritage Zone.
This project aims to protect cultural heritage while enhancing environmental resilience through AI.
Sophia the AI-bodied robot star
Visitors to the Smart City Expo Kuala Lumpur were treated to interesting technological solutions and services by various companies.
However, it was Sophia, the AI-powered robot, that hogged the limelight. Visitors were mesmerised by Sophia’s ability to hold conversations, and its facial expressions.
Several young children – including aspiring digital talents and those from Pusat Jagaan Amal Asyura in Sungai Buloh, Selangor – were introduced to Sophia
Sophia (far right) interacts with Gobind and several children at the Smart City Expo KL 2025 earlier today.
There saw first-hand Sophia’s capabilities, and the power of technological advancement in providing solutions and creating a better world.
