JOHOR BAHRU – Artificial intelligence (AI) may change the way people work, but that does not necessarily mean millions will suddenly lose their jobs, says Malaysian entrepreneur Yong Li.
Speaking to MalayaDailyToday, Yong Li said the more immediate change would likely involve existing jobs evolving as AI takes over or assists with certain tasks, making it increasingly important for workers and businesses to adapt.
“AI exposure does not mean millions of people will suddenly lose their jobs. What we are more likely to see first is that the job remains, but parts of the work change,” he said.
Yong Li shared this perspective after representing Malaysia as a Delegate Speaker at the One Young World ASEAN Leadership Forum 2026, held at Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM) in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
During a session titled “AI at Work: Skills, Security and Shared Prosperity in a Digital Economy”, he highlighted three key priorities for navigating the growing use of AI: equipping people with the necessary skills, ensuring organisations maintain security and accountability, and making the economic benefits of AI accessible to more people.
He said the ability to learn, adapt and work effectively alongside AI would become increasingly important, particularly for young people entering the workforce and businesses preparing for the next phase of the digital economy.
However, he stressed that adopting new technology alone would not guarantee success.
“Technology is only one part of the equation. We also need to think about people, organisational data, responsibility and who ultimately benefits from the value AI creates,” he said.
As the founder of Infinitas, a Malaysian technology venture focused on enterprise intelligence, Yong Li works with organisations to integrate AI into their operations, knowledge and workflows.
His experience has reinforced his view that successful AI adoption requires more than simply introducing new tools. Businesses must also consider how the technology is implemented, how information is protected and who is accountable for its use.
Beyond his speaking engagement, Yong Li also participated in cross-ASEAN group discussions with delegates from different member countries, exchanging perspectives on the region’s shared challenges and exploring practical solutions that could be implemented in their respective communities.
“The value of an ASEAN platform is that we are not looking at these challenges from only one country’s perspective. We may face different realities, but many of the questions around AI, skills and opportunity are shared. The important part is turning those different perspectives into ideas that can actually be taken forward,” he said.
For Malaysia, he believes the lessons from such regional exchanges should translate into meaningful action at home, particularly in preparing young people and businesses for technological change.
“What matters after an international forum is what we do with the experience. I hope more of what we learn across ASEAN can be brought back to our businesses, communities and young people here in Malaysia,” he said.
Yong Li is a Johor Bahru-based entrepreneur and technology practitioner whose work spans artificial intelligence, digital solutions and technology communities. He is also actively involved in the WordPress and open-source community in Malaysia and the wider region. -MalayaDailyToday
