Latest news with #LaurenceSi
United News of India
31-07-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Petronas and Microsoft sign MoU on strategic collaboration
New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Petronas, a Malaysian oil major, signed a memorandum of understanding with Microsoft Corporation, extending their collaboration on multiple areas, including fostering sustainability and innovation. This strategic alignment is intended to create a conducive ecosystem in Malaysia for economic advancement and societal benefit. At the signing in ceremony, Petronas was represented by Ir Ts Mohd Yusri Mohamed Yusof (senior vice president of projects, Petronas) and Izwan Ismail (vice president of group technology & commercialization, Petronas and Microsoft was represented by Laurence Si, who is the managing director and oversees the company's operations in Malaysia. Ir Ts Mohd Yusri (senior vice president of projects, Petronas) stressed the commitment to innovation beyond technology and shaping the future with an aim of sustainable development. 'Our collaboration with Microsoft is fueled by the shared commitment to meaningful innovation and sustainable progress. By harnessing the joint expertise in innovation and sustainability, we are steadfast in adopting AI (artificial intelligence) for the promotion of sustainable development.' Yusri added. Laurence Si (managing director, Microsoft) also pointed out the need for strengthened collaboration and commitment towards driving growth in the Malaysian oil sector. Reportedly, under the collaboration, both companies will explore new initiatives for fostering Artificial Intelligence) and energy innovation. Now, Petronas can leverage Microsoft's advanced technologies, including Copilot, cloud computing, and cybersecurity. UNI SAS PRS
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Microsoft stays the course in Malaysia amid global pullbacks on data centres
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Tech titan Microsoft has reaffirmed its commitment to invest RM10.5 billion in Malaysia, including the development of hyperscale data centres in the Klang Valley. This comes despite reports that the company has paused or delayed similar projects in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Indonesia. 'Microsoft remains committed to our investment in Malaysia to accelerate the nation's AI and cloud adoption,' a representative for Microsoft Malaysia told news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT). 'As a company, the tariff is something we are watching, but we don't have anything to share right now,' the same unnamed source was quoted as saying, referring to market concerns triggered by US tariffs announced in April. In the same month, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft was scaling back plans for its US data centres in Illinois, North Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as in other countries. The company said these changes reflect the flexibility of its global infrastructure strategy. Last month, Microsoft launched its Malaysia West cloud region in Greater Kuala Lumpur, which includes three availability zones. The facility is expected to offer low-latency connectivity and a resilient digital infrastructure supporting services like Microsoft 365 and Azure. Microsoft is also pushing forward with its AI for Malaysia's Future (AIForMYFuture) initiative to develop local talent. Its managing director Laurence Si previously said the company aims to train 800,000 Malaysians in artificial intelligence by the end of 2025. As of May, more than 400,000 people have already received AI training through the programme, Microsoft Malaysia's legal and government affairs director Adilah Junid told FMT. She encouraged Malaysians to take part via Microsoft's AI Skills Navigator website and the monthly AI Teach sessions at local institutions. 'Microsoft relies heavily on local partners such as Biji-Biji, HRD Corp, Perkeso, Pepper Labs, and the International Women's Federation of Commerce and Industry Malaysia,' Adilah was quoted as saying. 'They are really the ones to have networks within the community and society, enabling us to make this opportunity as widely accessible as possible,' she added. Addressing environmental concerns, Adilah said Microsoft is exploring ways to make its data centre operations more sustainable. 'We were part of the consultations with the digital ministry's guidelines for sustainable data centres. 'We also work with authorities to ensure that our water and energy usage metrics are aligned,' she was quoted as saying.
Malay Mail
15-06-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Microsoft stays the course in Malaysia amid global pullbacks on data centres
KUALA LUMPUR, June 15 — Tech titan Microsoft has reaffirmed its commitment to invest RM10.5 billion in Malaysia, including the development of hyperscale data centres in the Klang Valley. This comes despite reports that the company has paused or delayed similar projects in several countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Indonesia. 'Microsoft remains committed to our investment in Malaysia to accelerate the nation's AI and cloud adoption,' a representative for Microsoft Malaysia told news portal Free Malaysia Today (FMT). 'As a company, the tariff is something we are watching, but we don't have anything to share right now,' the same unnamed source was quoted as saying, referring to market concerns triggered by US tariffs announced in April. In the same month, Bloomberg reported that Microsoft was scaling back plans for its US data centres in Illinois, North Dakota and Wisconsin, as well as in other countries. The company said these changes reflect the flexibility of its global infrastructure strategy. Last month, Microsoft launched its Malaysia West cloud region in Greater Kuala Lumpur, which includes three availability zones. The facility is expected to offer low-latency connectivity and a resilient digital infrastructure supporting services like Microsoft 365 and Azure. Microsoft is also pushing forward with its AI for Malaysia's Future (AIForMYFuture) initiative to develop local talent. Its managing director Laurence Si previously said the company aims to train 800,000 Malaysians in artificial intelligence by the end of 2025. As of May, more than 400,000 people have already received AI training through the programme, Microsoft Malaysia's legal and government affairs director Adilah Junid told FMT. She encouraged Malaysians to take part via Microsoft's AI Skills Navigator website and the monthly AI Teach sessions at local institutions. 'Microsoft relies heavily on local partners such as Biji-Biji, HRD Corp, Perkeso, Pepper Labs, and the International Women's Federation of Commerce and Industry Malaysia,' Adilah was quoted as saying. 'They are really the ones to have networks within the community and society, enabling us to make this opportunity as widely accessible as possible,' she added. Addressing environmental concerns, Adilah said Microsoft is exploring ways to make its data centre operations more sustainable. 'We were part of the consultations with the digital ministry's guidelines for sustainable data centres. 'We also work with authorities to ensure that our water and energy usage metrics are aligned,' she was quoted as saying.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
AIngineer, Microsoft join forces to drive industrial AI
KUALA LUMPUR: AIngineer Sdn Bhd, a pioneering industrial AI venture incubated in PING23 Sdn Bhd or Petronas Innovation Garage (PING) has entered into a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, accelerating deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions across energy and heavy industries. Bringing together AIngineer's domain expertise in industrial AI with Microsoft's technological strengths, this collaboration will drive industrial AI innovation and commercialisation. This joint effort is poised to enhance operational efficiencies in the energy sector and contribute to the growth of Malaysia's digital economy. A MoU was recently signed between Microsoft Malaysia managing director Laurence Si and AIngineer CEO Lee Kian Seng, witnessed by Microsoft Malaysia general manager (Energy & Utilities) Datin Sharifah Shereeta Syed Sheh and AIngineer chief technology officer Crystal Lwi Xiau Jing, on the sidelines of the Microsoft AI Tour Kuala Lumpur. 'This collaboration with Microsoft is a pivotal milestone for AIngineer as we scale our solutions to meet the growing demands of a US$3.54 billion (RM15 billion) market for generative AI in the energy industry. By leveraging Microsoft's advanced cloud infrastructure, we are not only scaling with speed and security, but also enabling engineers to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Together, we are reshaping the future of engineering and building a foundation for more sustainable, resilient industrial operations,' said Lee. AIngineer is a unique AI co-pilot built by engineers for engineers, embedded directly into everyday workflow. Using state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, it augments engineers with deep technical knowledge and insights to enhance decision-making. Designed for complex industrial environments, AIngineer is a specialised industrial AI that integrates with technical databases and standards, enabling engineers to improve reliability, reduce diagnostic time, lower maintenance costs and preserve institutional knowledge. In recognition of its value, Petronas has entered into collaboration with AIngineer on various technical use cases to drive operational excellence. Si said, 'Malaysia is at the forefront of a profound industrial transformation, and AI stands as a critical catalyst in this journey toward a smarter, more efficient future. Through our collaboration with AIngineer, we are combining deep domain expertise with cutting-edge AI capabilities to help energy and heavy industries unlock unprecedented levels of operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability. With the general availability of Microsoft's first cloud region in Malaysia, this partnership reflects our commitment to supporting the nation's aspirations to become a regional AI leader. Together, we are not just transforming industries—we are contributing to the growth of Malaysia's digital economy and its position as a technology hub in Asia.' Meanwhile, PING CEO Zafirah Bahiyyah M Zulkifli commented, 'Teaming up with a global player like Microsoft is a strong endorsement of AIngineer's advanced technology capabilities and the innovation potential nurtured within Malaysia. As a venture incubated by the PING programme, this collaboration reflects our commitment to fostering impactful solutions that not only benefit the industry but also contribute to the nation's digital transformation. By creating a supportive ecosystem, we empower AIngineer and similar ventures to push boundaries and drive meaningful change that aligns with Malaysia's aspirations for growth and sustainability.' Beyond just the technical aspects, this collaboration will also focus on exploring strategies to commercialise AIngineer through Microsoft's extensive global network and established platforms, including Azure Marketplace and AppSource. By tapping into these channels, we aim to significantly expand AIngineer's industrial reach and adoption, enabling more industries to benefit from its cutting-edge AI capabilities. This strategic approach not only supports AIngineer's growth but also aligns with the broader vision of fostering innovation and digital transformation within Malaysia's energy and industrial sectors.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
AIngineer, Microsoft Partner to Advance AI in Energy Sector
KUALA LUMPUR: AIngineer Sdn. Bhd., a pioneering industrial AI venture incubated in PING23 Sdn. Bhd. or PETRONAS Innovation Garage (PING) has entered a strategic collaboration with Microsoft, accelerating deployment of cutting-edge AI solutions across energy and heavy industries. Bringing together AIngineer's domain expertise in industrial solutions with Microsoft's world-class technology capabilities, this collaboration will drive industrial AI innovation and joint commercialisation. It is poised to enhance operational efficiencies in the energy industry and contribute to the growth of Malaysia's digital economy. The collaboration was formalised during a signing ceremony attended by senior leaders from AIngineer, Microsoft and PETRONAS, on the sidelines of the Microsoft AI Tour Kuala Lumpur. The event is set around the initiative of driving the next phase of Malaysia's AI transformation. 'This collaboration with Microsoft is a pivotal milestone for AIngineer as we scale our solutions to meet the growing demands of a $3.54 billion market for generative AI in the energy industry. By leveraging Microsoft's advanced cloud infrastructure, we are not only scaling with speed and security, but also enabling engineers to make smarter, data-driven decisions. Together, we are reshaping the future of engineering and building a foundation for more sustainable, resilient industrial operations', said Lee Kian Seng, CEO of AIngineer. AIngineer is a unique AI copilot built by engineers for engineers, embedded directly into everyday workflow. Using state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Machine Learning (ML) algorithms, it augments engineers with deep technical knowledge and insights to enhance decision-making. Unlike other generic generative AI solutions, AIngineer is a specialised industrial AI that integrates with technical databases and standards, enabling engineers to improve reliability, reduce diagnostic time, lower maintenance costs and preserve institutional knowledge. Recognising the capability and value of AIngineer's solutions, PETRONAS has entered into collaboration with AIngineer on proof-of- concept activities for different use cases. 'Malaysia is at the forefront of industrial transformation, and AI is a key catalyst in this journey. Through our collaboration with AIngineer, we are bringing together deep domain expertise and advanced AI capabilities to help energy and heavy industries unlock new levels of efficiency, safety, and sustainability. Aligned with the upcoming general availability of Microsoft's first cloud region in Malaysia, this collaboration reflects our commitment to supporting Malaysia's aspirations to becoming a regional digital leader,' said Laurence Si, Managing Director of Microsoft Malaysia. CEO of PING, Zafirah Bahiyyah Bt M Zulkifli commented, 'Collaboration with global player like Microsoft is a powerful testament to the advanced capabilities of AIngineer - a technology venture incubated by the PING programme. This reflects that with the right ecosystem, our venture can lead in delivering impact for the industry and the nation.' Beyond technical aspects, this collaboration also encompasses joint commercialisation of AIngineer through Microsoft's global network and platforms such as Azure Marketplace and AppSource, enabling wider industrial reach and adoption. In addition, AIngineer, Microsoft and PETRONAS will explore joint efforts in advancing AI technology leadership and incubating high-impact AI use cases under the Malaysia National AI Innovation Center initiative, spearheaded by the National AI Office (NAIO), EY and Microsoft. AIngineer is founded by Lee, who is the ADS Young Engineer of the Year and ADIPEC Young Changemaker of the Year award recipient. It has successfully deployed AI solutions for the energy and government sectors. AIngineer was also featured during the Malaysia National Artificial Intelligence Office (NAIO) launch and have received support from Malaysia Petroleum Resources Corporation (MPRC), Cradle Fund, Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), Ministry of Digital and Parliament of Malaysia. For more information on PING, please visit
