Gov't Urged To Implement Ai 'Firewall' To Block Unsafe Applications
KUALA LUMPUR, April 28 (Bernama) -- The government has been urged to adopt a 'firewall' approach to filter artificial intelligence (AI)-based applications lacking robust security features, as a measure to prevent the misuse of the technology, including for the production and distribution of obscene content.
Treasurer of the Internet of Things (IoT) Association of Malaysia, Pathmanathan Muniandy, said all AI systems should be developed with a Core Code, a basic security code embedded directly within the AI system to enable automatic filtering of immoral content.
He stressed that AI development must adhere to stringent safety regulations and should not rely solely on external controls.
"AI systems must be programmed with the Core Code from the outset to ensure the technology is not misused, and it should be part of the AI's DNA itself," he said in a statement today.
Pathmanathan referred to a recent incident where a Form Four student was charged in the Kulai Magistrate's Court for allegedly possessing and editing obscene images using AI, raising concerns over the misuse of such technology, particularly among youths.
While Malaysia cannot control international technological developments, he suggested that the country introduce stricter domestic regulations and collaborate with ASEAN nations to push for minimum security standards in AI development.
In addition, he called for greater emphasis on AI literacy education to ensure that the younger generation better understands the risks associated with the technology.
"Education and punishment must go hand in hand. Awareness should be instilled early, but stern punishment must be imposed on those who misuse the technology," he said.
Pathmanathan stressed that AI should serve as a tool to build and ease life, not to harm individuals' reputations or safety.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Trump warns Musk against supporting Democrats
Published on: Sunday, June 08, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jun 08, 2025 By: Bernama Text Size: Trump (right) and Musk at the Oval Office. - Filepic by Reuters WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump warned tech billionaire Elon Musk of "very serious consequences" if he were to support Democrats in the future following their public falling-out, German news agency (dpa) reported. "He'll have to pay very serious consequences if he does that," Trump told NBC News in a phone interview set to air on Sunday. Advertisement However Trump declined to share what those consequences might be should Musk support Democratic candidates to harm Republicans who voted for the president's tax and budget bill. The budget bill this week triggered the public dispute between Musk, the world's richest man, and Trump, the world's most powerful one. Musk is demanding far greater spending cuts and called the bill "a disgusting abomination". Trump refers to it as the "big beautiful bill". Since Thursday, Musk and Trump have been engaged in an open mudslinging match after months of unusually close cooperation. Trump does not want to reconcile with Musk. Advertisement In the NBC interview, Trump was asked whether he believed his relationship with Musk, who owns the social media platform X, the electric car company Tesla, and the space voyage firm SpaceX, was over. "I would assume so, yeah," Trump said. He also reiterated that he was not interested in reconciling with Musk, saying he was too busy with other matters. "I have no intention of speaking to him." On Thursday, the brewing feud between the two powerful men exploded with Trump calling Musk "crazy" and Musk claiming that if it weren't for him, Trump would have lost the presidential election last year. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Malay Mail
5 hours ago
- Malay Mail
WWDC watch: Apple under pressure to prove it's still got ‘intelligence'
SAN FRANCISCO, June 8 — Pressure is on Apple to show it hasn't lost its magic despite broken promises to ramp up iPhones with generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) as rivals race ahead with the technology. Apple will showcase plans for its coveted devices and the software powering them at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) kicking off tomorrow in Silicon Valley. The event comes a year after the tech titan said a suite of AI features it dubbed 'Apple Intelligence' was heading for iPhones, including an improvement of its much criticised Siri voice assistant. 'Apple advertised a lot of features as if they were going to be available, and it just didn't happen,' noted Emarketer senior analyst Gadjo Sevilla. Instead, Apple delayed the rollout of the Siri upgrade, with hopes that it will be available in time for the next iPhone release, expected in the fall. 'I don't think there is going to be that much of a celebratory tone at WWDC,' the analyst told AFP. 'It could be more of a way for Apple to recover some credibility by showing where they're headed.' Industry insiders will be watching to see whether Apple addresses the AI stumble or focuses on less splashy announcements, including a rumoured overhaul of its operating systems for its line of devices. 'The bottom line is Apple seemed to underestimate the AI shift, then over-promised features, and is now racing to catch up,' Gene Munster and Brian Baker of Deepwater Asset Management wrote in a WWDC preview note. Rumours also include talk that Apple may add GenAI partnerships with Google or Perplexity to an OpenAI alliance announced a year ago. 'Double black eye' Infusing its lineup with AI is only one of Apple's challenges. Developers, who build apps and tools to run on the company's products, may be keen for Apple to loosen its tight control of access to iPhones. 'There's still a lot of strife between Apple and developers,' Sevilla said. 'Taking 30 percent commissions from them and then failing to deliver on promises for new functionality — that's a double black eye.' A lawsuit by Fortnite maker Epic Games ended with Apple being ordered to allow outside payment systems to be used at the US App Store, but developers may want more, according to the analyst. 'Apple does need to give an olive branch to the developer community, which has been long-suffering,' Sevilla said. 'They can't seem to thrive within the restrictive guardrails that Apple has been putting up for decades now.' As AI is incorporated into Apple software, the company may need to give developers more ability to sync apps to the platform, according to Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi. 'Maybe with AI it's the first time that Apple needs to rethink the open versus closed ecosystem,' Milanesi said. Apple on defensive Adding to the WWDC buildup is that the legendary designer behind the iPhone, Jony Ive, has joined with ChatGPT maker OpenAI to create a potential rival device for engaging with AI. 'It puts Apple on the defensive because the key designer for your most popular product is saying there is something better than the iPhone,' Sevilla said. While WWDC has typically been a software-focused event, Apple might unveil new hardware to show it is still innovating, the analyst speculated. And while unlikely to come up at WWDC, Apple has to deal with tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump in his trade war with China, a key market for sales growth as well as the place where most iPhones are made. Trump has also threatened to hit Apple with tariffs if iPhone production wasn't moved to the US, which analysts say is impossible given the costs and capabilities. 'The whole idea of having an American-made iPhone is a pipe dream; you'd have to rewrite the rules of global economics,' said Sevilla. One of the things Apple has going for it is that its fans are known for their loyalty and likely to remain faithful regardless of how much time it takes the company to get its AI act together, Milanesi said. 'Do people want a smarter Siri? Hell yeah,' Milanesi said. 'But if you are in Apple, you're in Apple and you'll continue to buy their stuff.' — AFP
The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
A symphony of minds
As we embrace educational modernisation, we stand at a crucial crossroads. The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) offers us not a replacement for teachers, but an opportunity to rediscover what makes teaching profoundly human. This moment invites us to reconsider what education truly means in our increasingly digital world. In my years at university, I've witnessed the evolution from traditional teaching methods to AI-enhanced learning environments. Today's educational institutions often measure teachers by quantifiable outputs such as knowledge transfer, content delivery and assessment creation. These are indeed tasks that modern AI systems perform efficiently. But this represents just one dimension of what education can and should be. The heart of teaching has always extended beyond mere content delivery. True educators serve as emotional supporters, value guides and belief builders. They form meaningful connections with students and understand both academic and personal challenges. These human dimensions represent the irreplaceable core of education. And these are all the aspects that AI can complement but can never authentically replicate. Conventional educational frameworks sometimes emphasise standardisation and metrics at the expense of these crucial human elements. When teachers must devote excessive time to administrative paperwork and standardised testing preparation, they have less opportunity to build genuine relationships with students. Yet these relationships remain the foundation of effective education. Thanks to AI adoption, I believe all educators can leverage its capabilities to reduce repetitive paperwork and build more authentic connections with students. The golden formula for mastering skills and knowledge involves ample attention and sufficient time. Patience is not a sign of inefficiency, but a necessary ingredient in the learning process. Giving a struggling learner additional time is not a luxury but an essential aspect of effective teaching. Better together: The future of teaching lies not in resistance to technology but in rediscovering our distinctive human contribution. – In these spaces of human connection, real educational transformation can happen. Today's students navigate a world fundamentally different from previous generations. The traditional educational approaches sometimes fail to resonate with their lived experiences. Rather than seeing them as difficult or rebellious, we might recognise that they're responding to a changing reality. They don't just need information – which they can access anywhere – but also guidance on how to process and apply it meaningfully. I once asked my students, 'What should you learn in classrooms?' After hearing responses about knowledge, content and techniques, I replied: 'You should look at your lecturers and observe how they handle problems.' While information can be found anywhere, attitudes and approaches to life's challenges are best learnt from authentic human models. This, I believe, represents what education should instil in every student's mind. AI offers remarkable capabilities. It can simulate empathy, generate helpful responses and provide plausible advice. But it cannot authentically understand students as complex human beings with unique needs, backgrounds and potential. AI lacks the lived experience, emotional intelligence and intuitive judgement that form the core of human connection. These qualities matter immensely in education. The question before us isn't whether AI will replace teachers, but how AI and teachers can work together to create better educational experiences. Each can contribute unique strengths. AI can handle routine tasks, provide immediate feedback and offer personalised practice opportunities, freeing teachers to focus on what matters most, such as building relationships, providing mentorship, and nurturing the human qualities that technology cannot replicate. If we wish to enhance teaching as a human profession with technological support, we must thoughtfully design our educational approaches. We need approaches that protect time for relationship-building, recognise the importance of supporting students through difficulties, and acknowledge the profound impact of human connection on learning. AI won't replace teachers who embrace their uniquely human role. By leveraging technology to handle what machines do best, educators can reclaim time and energy for what humans do best: inspire, connect, and transform lives through authentic relationships. The path forward lies in partnership, not replacement. We can embrace technological tools while reclaiming the human heart of education. By combining the efficiency of AI with the irreplaceable value of human guidance, we create educational environments that prepare students not just to know information but to live meaningful lives. The future of teaching lies not in resistance to technology but in rediscovering our distinctive human contribution. Together, educators and technology can create learning experiences more powerful than either could achieve alone. Dr Lau Chee Yong is an assistant professor in the School of Engineering at Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU). His professional qualifications include a PhD in Bioelectronic Engineering, Chartered Engineer in the UK, Registered Engineer in Malaysia, European Engineer, and Malaysian Registered Technology Expert. He currently serves as the librarian for the Institution of Engineers Malaysia and is a member of its Electronic Engineering Technology Division. The views expressed here are the writer's own.
