Educate Civil Servants On Ethical Ai Use Say Experts

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More than 400,000 civil servants have been granted access to AI tools powered by Google Gemini under an initiative of the digital ministry in collaboration with Google Cloud. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA: Technology experts are urging the government to educate civil servants on the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) to curb its potential misuse.
The National Tech Association of Malaysia (Pikom) and Universiti Malaysia Kelantan’s Nooraziah Ahmad both acknowledged that AI can be leveraged to improve public service delivery.
However, they said there was always the potential for misuse, whether intentionally or otherwise.

Pikom chairman Alex Liew said, as with all technology, the misuse of AI often stems from human factors rather than the tools themselves, underscoring the need for proper training in AI ethics.
“Continuous awareness and training on AI ethics and governance, as outlined by the government in the National Guidelines on AI Governance and Ethics in 2024, should be reinforced to ensure responsible use,” he told FMT.
Nooraziah said AI ethics must be taught even before civil servants are trained in the use of the technology. She said there was a need for standardised national guidelines to provide a solid framework for the effective and ethical use of AI.
“Misuse could involve generating inappropriate content, mishandling sensitive data, or using AI in ways that compromise ethical standards. To prevent this, the government can integrate these guidelines into civil servant training programmes,” she said.
Nooraziah, a senior creative technology lecturer, said the government should also ensure that all AI decisions are explainable, traceable and auditable, and conduct reviews of AI tools from time to time to identify issues early on.
“The government should also create safe channels for reporting unethical AI use without fear of retaliation.”
More than 400,000 civil servants have been granted access to AI tools powered by Google Gemini under an initiative of the digital ministry in collaboration with Google Cloud.
The ministry said 97% of the pilot programme’s 270 participants have found the tools helpful, saving them up 3.25 hours each, while 91% said AI helped improve the quality of their work.
Nooraziah and Liew lauded the initiative, saying it would ease work processes for civil servants, streamline operations and save time, allowing for greater public satisfaction in services rendered.
“This aligns with global trends where AI-driven tools help automate repetitive tasks, allowing civil servants to focus on higher-value work,” Liew added.
Nooraziah agreed, saying the initiative had the potential to “completely transform” Malaysia’s civil service and establish a culture of innovation and efficiency. - FMT

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