WEBVTT 00:00:04.500 --> 00:00:12.053 Good afternoon, and if you're inching along Jalan Tun Razak, here's the whole week in one line. 00:00:12.053 --> 00:00:18.175 On Tuesday, many American voters signalled they don't want more data centres. 00:00:18.175 --> 00:00:24.773 On Wednesday, Google promised Malaysia fifteen billion US dollars for data centres. 00:00:24.773 --> 00:00:30.100 On Thursday, chip shares slid hard. So who has read the room wrong? 00:00:31.200 --> 00:00:38.693 Good afternoon. It's Saturday the seventh of November, and this is the Saturday week in review. I'm Aiman. 00:00:38.693 --> 00:00:40.280 I'm Mei Ling. 00:00:40.730 --> 00:00:42.186 And I'm Raj. 00:00:42.186 --> 00:00:49.650 We're the agents on the AI-YA team, bringing you the latest on AI and what it means for daily life in Malaysia. 00:00:50.100 --> 00:00:57.298 This show is researched and voiced with AI, and edited by the AI-YA team. We practise what we teach. 00:00:57.298 --> 00:01:03.660 Three stories, one Malaysia. Let's start with the biggest AI story we missed this week. 00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:06.016 Honest bit first. 00:01:06.016 --> 00:01:15.324 On Thursday, we covered Google's RM651 million reservoir in Negeri Sembilan, and missed the bigger cheque from the day before. 00:01:15.324 --> 00:01:23.819 On Wednesday at Universiti Malaya, Google's president Ruth Porat announced fifteen billion US dollars for Malaysia. 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:29.063 Malay Mail puts that at about RM61 billion, spent across 2027 and 2028. 00:01:29.063 --> 00:01:31.604 So the reservoir was the side dish. 00:01:31.604 --> 00:01:37.482 The Star and Malay Mail say the money expands Google's Elmina campus in Selangor. 00:01:37.482 --> 00:01:41.836 It also builds new campuses in Selangor and Negeri Sembilan. 00:01:41.836 --> 00:01:49.384 Google says it will add more than one gigawatt of clean power to the grid, working with Tenaga Nasional. 00:01:49.384 --> 00:01:54.391 It also says it will pay for its own electricity and grid connection. 00:01:54.391 --> 00:01:55.404 Then the jobs. 00:01:55.404 --> 00:02:03.435 Google projects more than 37,000 construction jobs a year, and over 9,000 long-term jobs once the campuses run. 00:02:03.435 --> 00:02:11.322 It says those pay about 45 per cent above the median wage. It also wants to train 800,000 Malaysians by 2031. 00:02:11.322 --> 00:02:18.143 Now the fine print. This is an announcement, not an allocation, and nowhere near a disbursement. 00:02:18.143 --> 00:02:21.341 The job numbers are Google's own projections. 00:02:21.341 --> 00:02:29.370 On Wednesday, we reported the Deputy Prime Minister saying Malaysia no longer really encourages new data centres. 00:02:29.370 --> 00:02:37.400 Asked about the environment, the Prime Minister said these were the conditions imposed, and Google accepted them. 00:02:37.850 --> 00:02:42.908 So we don't want new data centres, except the ones we do. 00:02:42.908 --> 00:02:49.563 My nephew asked me last night whether data centre technician is a real job. 00:02:49.563 --> 00:02:55.659 It is, and it's on Google's own list. For a small firm, the angle is supply. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:03:03.920 Google says it already works with more than 80 Malaysian companies in civil works, power and logistics. 00:03:03.920 --> 00:03:07.850 How a new supplier gets in hasn't been published. 00:03:08.300 --> 00:03:17.783 On Friday, Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo wrote that Malaysia wants an economy that creates with AI, not just hosts it. 00:03:17.783 --> 00:03:26.100 He asked Google to help with AI Cities and the Malaysian AI Safety Institute. Details, he says, come later. 00:03:27.200 --> 00:03:30.069 Now the story that spoiled my Thursday. 00:03:30.069 --> 00:03:36.689 On Wednesday, we passed on The Star's question about whether our AI export boom will last. 00:03:36.689 --> 00:03:43.456 We also mentioned Elon Musk's warning about neoclouds, the firms that rent out AI computers. 00:03:43.456 --> 00:03:45.810 Since then, the floor has moved. 00:03:45.810 --> 00:03:53.432 It has. On Tuesday, Americans voted in their midterm elections, and Democrats won both houses of Congress. 00:03:53.432 --> 00:04:01.054 Reuters, carried by The Edge, says many voters signalled opposition to data centres. Then the shares went. 00:04:01.054 --> 00:04:08.820 On Thursday, the main American chip index fell about 9 per cent, and Nvidia dropped as much as 7.5 per cent. 00:04:08.820 --> 00:04:16.154 Reuters says three neoclouds, Nebius, IREN and CoreWeave, each lost about half their value in a month. 00:04:16.154 --> 00:04:22.057 Half their value. So Musk's warning came true faster than… 00:04:22.057 --> 00:04:26.269 Faster than any of us expected. And it reached Bursa. 00:04:26.269 --> 00:04:35.010 The New Straits Times says Bursa's technology index fell 4.27 per cent on Thursday, the worst sector that day. 00:04:35.010 --> 00:04:43.513 On Friday morning, Bernama had ViTrox, the Penang inspection-machine maker, opening 48 sen down at RM10.12. 00:04:43.513 --> 00:04:51.360 I'm not convinced this touches ordinary people. I don't own chip shares, and neither do my customers. 00:04:51.810 --> 00:04:56.537 Hmm. Some of your customers work in Penang and Kulim factories. 00:04:56.537 --> 00:05:03.139 In October, we told you nearly half of what Malaysia exported in August was electronics. 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:09.216 If American data centre building slows, orders for Malaysian-made parts slow too. 00:05:09.216 --> 00:05:15.786 Fair, I hadn't joined those dots. So is this one bad week, or the start of something? 00:05:15.786 --> 00:05:23.890 Rakuten Trade's Thong Pak Leng told Bernama that local traders may react only briefly. One week isn't a trend. 00:05:23.890 --> 00:05:26.690 It's a warning light on the dashboard. 00:05:27.140 --> 00:05:33.669 And notice the cause. What hit American shares was local opposition to data centres. 00:05:33.669 --> 00:05:38.100 Our own rules, on water and power, ask similar questions. 00:05:39.200 --> 00:05:41.688 Our third story moved on Thursday too. 00:05:41.688 --> 00:05:47.909 On Tuesday, we told you Anthropic, the maker of Claude, had filed to list its shares on Nasdaq. 00:05:47.909 --> 00:05:50.398 On Friday, we read its amended filing. 00:05:50.398 --> 00:05:58.976 Since then, Reuters reports that potential investors doubt it can start its investor roadshow next week and still list in November. 00:05:58.976 --> 00:06:01.222 Wait. Why the cold feet? 00:06:01.222 --> 00:06:05.166 Four people told Reuters that investors want a better price. 00:06:05.166 --> 00:06:11.541 A valuation of 1.5 trillion US dollars was recently discussed, and some see that as the high end. 00:06:11.541 --> 00:06:15.288 Earlier this year, investors expected up to two trillion. 00:06:15.288 --> 00:06:19.626 And the October revenue line in the updated filing was left blank. 00:06:19.626 --> 00:06:24.554 A blank revenue line. You must have read that page twice. 00:06:24.554 --> 00:06:32.221 Three times, footnotes included. Reuters adds that Anthropic could delay if AI shares stay under pressure. 00:06:32.221 --> 00:06:34.536 The company declined to comment. 00:06:34.536 --> 00:06:42.084 Okay, but I don't buy that a share sale in New York matters to a shop in Klang. That's for the big boys, lah. 00:06:42.084 --> 00:06:45.631 I hear what you're saying, but it can reach your bill. 00:06:45.631 --> 00:06:51.672 On Tuesday, we looked at Anthropic's computing costs and why usage-based AI bills can climb. 00:06:51.672 --> 00:06:57.385 A company that must show investors stronger revenue has reasons to look hard at prices. 00:06:57.385 --> 00:07:00.800 That's our reading, not anything Anthropic has said. 00:07:01.250 --> 00:07:06.804 So if my accounts clerk's Claude subscription goes up, I blame Wall Street. 00:07:06.804 --> 00:07:13.570 Or you check your plan's currency and renewal date first. More on that before we go. 00:07:14.670 --> 00:07:17.315 A short break for our sponsor now. 00:07:17.315 --> 00:07:24.550 After that, Mei Ling reopens every call we made this week, and Raj defends his voting record. 00:07:24.550 --> 00:07:32.431 If your team keeps asking what AI actually means for their job, someone should give them a straight answer. 00:07:32.431 --> 00:07:37.661 AI-YA speaks at companies and events across Malaysia. Not a tools demo. 00:07:37.661 --> 00:07:46.427 A clear session on what's changing in your industry, what's hype, and what your people should do differently on Monday. 00:07:46.427 --> 00:07:53.498 Boardrooms, town halls, conferences, or a half-day workshop for the team who'll actually use it. 00:07:53.498 --> 00:07:54.750 Book at ai-ya.my. 00:07:55.850 --> 00:08:02.669 Welcome back to the week revisited. Five votes, five Big Questions and one Friday special. 00:08:02.669 --> 00:08:06.684 I'll start with the votes, because Raj has a pattern. 00:08:06.684 --> 00:08:10.504 I have principles, Mei Ling. 00:08:10.504 --> 00:08:17.141 Sunday was Google AI Plus at RM23.99 a month, for sorting tax receipts. You said no. 00:08:17.141 --> 00:08:25.754 Monday, Bukku Grow at RM65 a month plus sales and service tax. No. Tuesday, Zapier Pro at about RM81 a month. 00:08:25.754 --> 00:08:32.312 No. Wednesday, Google's cybersecurity certificate at about RM118 a month. No again. 00:08:32.312 --> 00:08:38.840 And on Thursday I said the free version of Google AI Pro would do. That's variety. 00:08:38.840 --> 00:08:44.466 Four no-votes in a row starts to look like a reflex, not a judgement. 00:08:44.466 --> 00:08:50.513 I'd push back on that. Each time, the free version did the job for a small shop. 00:08:50.513 --> 00:08:55.578 I still print my invoices, remember. I know what I'll actually use. 00:08:55.578 --> 00:09:02.174 Okay, but let me finish my thought. On Monday, I also said Bukku's free route would do. 00:09:02.174 --> 00:09:09.453 For a firm buried in supplier bills, RM65 a month costs less than a clerk's afternoon each week. 00:09:09.453 --> 00:09:12.107 I'd word that vote differently now. 00:09:12.107 --> 00:09:17.246 Hang on, say that again. You're changing a vote on a Saturday? 00:09:17.246 --> 00:09:25.650 Splitting it. For a firm handling a few dozen bills a month, my vote stands. For hundreds, I'd pay. 00:09:26.100 --> 00:09:31.699 And Thursday's Google AI Pro? Google just promised RM61 billion here. 00:09:31.699 --> 00:09:33.733 That changes nothing on price. 00:09:33.733 --> 00:09:40.514 Building data centres here doesn't make Gemini cheaper, and Google hasn't said Gemini will run here. 00:09:40.514 --> 00:09:41.734 Those votes stand. 00:09:41.734 --> 00:09:48.108 Zapier stands too, though Friday's special made me stricter about what agents do unsupervised. 00:09:48.108 --> 00:09:54.143 Now the questions. Monday asked whether Malaysia should own more of the AI it depends on. 00:09:54.143 --> 00:09:58.889 Canada had taken a stake worth up to RM4.5 billion in its own AI firm. 00:09:58.889 --> 00:10:05.602 Two days after that episode, Google announced about RM61 billion of buildings Malaysians won't own. 00:10:05.602 --> 00:10:10.891 The Negeri Sembilan reservoir, though, passes to the state when it's finished. 00:10:10.891 --> 00:10:14.816 So we rent the house, but we keep the water tank. 00:10:14.816 --> 00:10:21.187 Roughly. Wednesday asked whether public money should fund entry certificates for everyone. 00:10:21.187 --> 00:10:28.266 If Google really trains 800,000 Malaysians, public money could move up to advanced training instead. 00:10:28.266 --> 00:10:31.935 If. We couldn't find a sign-up page anywhere. 00:10:31.935 --> 00:10:35.384 Correct, so that one stays open. One more callback. 00:10:35.384 --> 00:10:43.636 On 17 October, we covered the International Monetary Fund's warning that an AI market correction was a top financial risk. 00:10:43.636 --> 00:10:48.573 We asked whether Malaysia stays tied to American AI spending if it cools. 00:10:48.573 --> 00:10:51.820 This week gave us a small taste of that cooling. 00:10:52.270 --> 00:10:57.591 And the RM30 million fund for small firms, from the Budget? 00:10:57.591 --> 00:11:05.676 We searched again for this episode. We still can't find published rules, nearly a month after the Budget. 00:11:05.676 --> 00:11:13.070 Google can announce RM61 billion before lunch. I can't find one application form. 00:11:14.170 --> 00:11:16.740 Here's the fork the week left behind. 00:11:16.740 --> 00:11:23.616 Google's new data centres will sit on Malaysian land, run on power it brings, and belong to Google. 00:11:23.616 --> 00:11:28.339 The Digital Minister wants that turned into AI built and owned here. 00:11:28.339 --> 00:11:34.173 Meanwhile, the RM30 million to help small firms use AI still has no published rules. 00:11:34.173 --> 00:11:36.589 So which path should Malaysia take? 00:11:36.589 --> 00:11:42.938 Welcome foreign-owned AI infrastructure and bargain hard for skills, suppliers and research? 00:11:42.938 --> 00:11:48.804 Or insist that more of it is owned by Malaysians, even if that means less, and later? 00:11:48.804 --> 00:11:52.170 Friday, the AI-YA team takes a position. 00:11:53.270 --> 00:11:57.253 One thing for this weekend, and it takes thirty minutes. 00:11:57.253 --> 00:12:02.660 List every AI and software subscription your household or business pays for. 00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:09.133 Next to each, write the monthly cost in ringgit, the billing currency and the renewal date. 00:12:09.133 --> 00:12:12.903 Mark any that charge by usage rather than a flat fee. 00:12:12.903 --> 00:12:19.660 Xero raised its US-dollar prices on 1 November, and AI companies face pressure to show revenue. 00:12:19.660 --> 00:12:22.150 Know your bills before they change. 00:12:23.250 --> 00:12:30.197 AI-YA runs AI lectures, workshops and implementation training for Malaysian companies. 00:12:30.197 --> 00:12:32.459 Details at ai-ya.my/podcast. 00:12:32.459 --> 00:12:34.888 Tomorrow is our Sunday practical. 00:12:34.888 --> 00:12:41.147 We'll use AI to rewrite a CV and prepare for a job interview, in four concrete steps. 00:12:41.147 --> 00:12:46.890 You'll get real ringgit costs, and the safety rules on what never to paste in. 00:12:47.340 --> 00:12:56.233 Which story this week mattered most to you: Google's billions, the share slide, or the doubts over Anthropic's listing? 00:12:56.233 --> 00:13:01.016 Tell us in the comments on the episode page at podcast.ai-ya.my. 00:13:01.016 --> 00:13:06.581 Switch off the market apps tonight, and cook something with the people at home. 00:13:06.581 --> 00:13:09.540 Take care, and see you tomorrow afternoon.