Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the homegrown application NurAI aims to address factual inaccuracies and bias in Islamic content generated by Western AI platforms.

He said the newly launched platform not only processes language but also understands manners, preserves the law, and upholds the cultural dignity of Muslims.

“There are studies that have found that there is AI content related to Islam on Western platforms that contains bias or factual inaccuracies, thus presenting a negative image of our religion and culture.

“We have witnessed how AI systems give answers that contradict syariah principles when asked about Islamic financial law or quote unauthentic sources when discussing aqidah issues. This is a gap that we must close, and Insya-Allah, I am confident that NurAI can do it,” he said.

He was officiating the launch of “NurAI: The World’s First Shariah LLM” event in Kuala Lumpur today. Also present was Zetrix AI director Jimmy Wong Abdullah.

Zahid stressed that most global AI systems are developed in the West, but the values and priorities they bring are not necessarily in line with Malaysia’s way of life and aspirations.

He said this shift is not only a symbol of innovation but also serves as an instrument of technological diplomacy in positioning Malaysia as a leader in syariah-compliant AI.

The launch, he added, marks not just a technological innovation but also a form of technological diplomacy, positioning Malaysia as a leader in syariah-compliant AI and opening opportunities for strategic cooperation with Asean countries and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

“Make this platform the basis for shaping the thinking of the community, answering questions about halal and haram, providing guidance on zakat and faraid, providing syariah-compliant investment advice openly, and ultimately guiding the community based on true and recognised Islamic disciplines,” he said.

Zahid also hoped that NurAI’s debut would spark a national movement, eventually making Malaysia a trusted digitalisation hub for the Islamic world.

“I am also confident that the AI ecosystem we are developing today will be Malaysia’s legacy for the Islamic world, a legacy centred on knowledge, technology, and faith that will be remembered not only by today’s generation but also by our grandchildren in the future,” he said.

Meanwhile, Wong said Zetrix AI plays an important role as the main facilitator in the development of NurAI, which not only acts as a technology entity but also drives the implementation of the first Islamic AI ecosystem of its kind.

“The development of NurAI has been driven entirely through the regional cooperation framework established through the China Asean AI Lab based at Zetrix Tower.

“The launch of NurAI today proves that Asean is capable of developing sophisticated AI technology, based on values and culture and competing globally,” he said.

- Bernama