From Legality to Responsibility: Charting the Course for AI Regulation in Malaysia

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies continue to evolve rapidly, Malaysia faces the imperative of establishing a robust regulatory framework to address legal complexities and ensure responsible AI deployment. This paper examines the current landscape of AI legality in Malaysia, analysing existing laws and regulations governing AI applications across various sectors. It identifies key legal challenges, including issues related to data privacy, algorithmic transparency, liability, and ethical considerations. Emphasising the transition from mere legality to ethical responsibility, the paper advocates for a proactive approach in charting the course for AI regulation. The doctrinal research methodology is used in this paper. This paper will first discuss the use of AI in different sectors in Malaysia and then will highlight the various problems associated with it. This study also discusses newly adopted AI regulations by the EU and China, and also the progress of the USA and the UK on AI regulation. It proposes strategies for enacting a forward-looking regulatory framework that integrates ethical guidelines, promotes transparency, fosters collaboration between stakeholders, and establishes mechanisms for accountability. By navigating this trajectory towards responsible AI regulation, Malaysia can unlock the full potential of AI while upholding ethical standards, protecting individual rights, and mitigating risks associated with AI technologies.