MalaysianUpdates

Category: Technology & Innovation

  • Smarter Hybrid Work: Jabra Launches Evolve3 Series and PanaCast Room Kit

    Smarter Hybrid Work: Jabra Launches Evolve3 Series and PanaCast Room Kit

    As the world continues to navigate ongoing economic pressures, including concerns around oil supply and rising fuel costs, many governments are encouraging businesses to adopt hybrid work arrangements as a way to support operational efficiency and reduce commuting demand. In Malaysia, the Government has introduced such measures for civil servants, including ministries, government agencies, and government-linked companies.

    This shift towards more flexible work models is further supported by a global Zoom survey, which found that 75% of employees believe their current remote or hybrid work tools require improvement, while 72% are calling for increased investment in new workplace technologies.

    In response to these evolving demands, Jabra, a global leader in professional audio and video solutions, continues to enhance its hybrid work portfolio. Designed to support everything from individual focus work to full-room collaboration, its latest innovations prioritise clear communication, mobility, and scalable deployment across organisations.

    Today, Jabra introduces two key additions to its hybrid work ecosystem: the Jabra Evolve3 headset series and the Jabra PanaCast Room Kit.

    The Jabra Evolve3 series represents a new generation of professional headsets designed to address ongoing challenges in virtual communication. According to Jabra’s Certification Study (2023), 83% of knowledge workers report that poor audio quality negatively affects online meetings, with call clarity identified as the most common issue in headset usage. Despite this, 46% of professionals still rely on consumer-grade headsets, which may not meet the requirements of professional-grade communication in terms of clarity, comfort, and compatibility.

    The Jabra Evolve3 series is purpose-built for hybrid professionals who move between office, home, and mobile environments. It is available in both over-the-ear (Evolve3 85) and on-the-ear (Evolve3 75) variants, featuring a discreet boomless design powered by next-generation audio intelligence.

    At the core of the series is Jabra ClearVoice technology, supported by deep neural network (DNN) models trained on more than 60 million real-world sentences. This allows the system to isolate the user’s voice from background noise without the need for a visible boom microphone. Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) further enhances performance by adjusting dynamically to the user’s environment and headset fit, ensuring clearer audio during calls and media use.

    As workplace communication becomes increasingly mobile, voice interaction is also gaining importance. Research indicates that voice input can be up to three times faster than typing, making accurate speech capture essential for professionals working in dynamic or screen-free environments. The Evolve3 series is designed with this in mind, offering extended battery life and fast-charging capabilities to support full-day usage.

    Shared key features across both Jabra Evolve3 85 and Evolve3 75 include a boomless AI-enhanced multi-microphone system powered by Jabra ClearVoice, Adaptive ANC during calls, Spatial Sound for a more natural audio experience, up to 37 hours of battery life with 10-minute fast charging providing up to 10 hours of use, secure Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity with Google Fast Pair and no dongle requirement, UC certification for leading virtual meeting platforms, and configuration and updates via the Jabra Plus mobile app.

    The Evolve3 85 (over-ear) model is designed for maximum immersion and noise isolation, making it suitable for professionals working in louder environments. It offers up to 25 hours of call time or up to 120 hours of media playback (with ANC and busylight off), along with 10-minute fast charging for up to 10 hours of use. It also features a foldable design and compact carrying case for portability.

    The Evolve3 75 (on-ear) model provides a lighter and more breathable fit, ideal for hybrid workers who require greater situational awareness. It delivers up to 22 hours of talk time or up to 110 hours of media playback (with ANC and busylight off), along with the same 10-minute fast-charge capability for extended daily use. Its more compact form factor makes it suitable for frequent travel and mobility.

    Complementing its personal audio solutions, the Jabra PanaCast Room Kit extends intelligent collaboration into meeting rooms of all sizes. Designed for plug-and-play deployment and scalable configurations, the system delivers consistent video and audio performance for medium to large meeting spaces.

    The kit is available in configurations supporting one, three, or five cameras, allowing organisations to match coverage to room size and layout while maintaining a consistent user experience across locations. Built on Jabra’s panoramic video technology and multi-camera intelligence, the system automatically frames speakers and captures the entire room. Integrated audio ensures remote participants can clearly hear discussions from any position, supporting a more inclusive meeting experience.

    The Jabra PanaCast Room Kit includes the Jabra PanaCast 50 VBS, a video bar that supports extension audio and multi-camera setups, delivering 180-degree panoramic video with intelligent framing and edge AI features. It also includes the Jabra PanaCast SpeakerMic, an extension microphone that captures voices evenly across the room while providing intuitive meeting controls. In addition, the system features an expandable multi-camera setup powered by Huddly Crew technology, enabling intelligent speaker tracking and dynamic framing based on active speakers.

    Across Asia Pacific, organisations are increasingly investing in workplace technologies that balance flexibility with performance. According to the Jabra Knowledge Worker Study conducted with the London School of Economics, 60% of professionals expect voice to become the primary interface for workplace technology within the next three years. By integrating intelligent personal audio with scalable room-based video systems, Jabra aims to deliver a unified ecosystem designed for the evolving needs of hybrid teams.

    “From individual workspaces to full meeting rooms, organisations across APAC need collaboration technology that is reliable, adaptable, and built to scale,” said Melvin Phun, Country Manager at Jabra Malaysia. “With Jabra Evolve3 and the Jabra PanaCast Room Kit, we continue to strengthen our leadership in professional audio and video solutions for the next generation of work.”

    Jabra Evolve3 85, priced at MYR 3,000, is now available via Jabra’s official Shopee and Lazada stores. Jabra Evolve3 75, priced at MYR 2,300, is also available through the same channels. The Jabra PanaCast Room Kit, priced from MYR 35,000 to MYR 75,000, is expected to be available in Malaysia in Q2 2026.

  • Mengukuh Dominasi: Merdeka 118 Kini Menjadi Rujukan Utama bagi Piawaian Keselamatan Menara Tinggi

    Mengukuh Dominasi: Merdeka 118 Kini Menjadi Rujukan Utama bagi Piawaian Keselamatan Menara Tinggi

    Sebagai ikon pembangunan di peringkat global, Menara Merdeka 118 terus menetapkan penanda aras baharu bagi inovasi keselamatan di Malaysia. Menara ini secara rasmi telah dianugerahkan Sijil Perakuan Bomba (FC) oleh Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat Malaysia (JBPM), sekali gus mengesahkan kepatuhan sepenuhnya terhadap piawaian keselamatan kebakaran yang paling ketat di bawah perundangan negara. Pencapaian ini membuktikan keteguhan sistem keselamatan nyawa yang dilaksanakan di seluruh premis bagi memastikan kesiapsiagaan operasi berada pada tahap tertinggi, sesuai dengan skala dan kompleksiti menara super tinggi ini.

    Bagi memperkukuh komitmen terhadap kecemerlangan operasi, Menara Merdeka 118 turut mengintegrasikan Sistem Pengawasan Kebakaran Automatik (SPKA) yang terkini. Langkah ini meningkatkan keupayaan pengurusan kecemasan menerusi pemantauan masa nyata serta penyelarasan yang lebih strategik bersama JBPM—elemen yang sangat kritikal dalam menjamin tindakan pantas di persekitaran bangunan pencakar langit yang kompleks.

    Semasa majlis penyerahan sijil tersebut, Yang Setia Penolong Kanan Pesuruhjaya Bomba Hj. Hassan ‘As’ari bin Hj. Omar, Pengarah JBPM Kuala Lumpur menjelaskan: “Pihak bomba bersama Malaysia Supertall Secretariat (MSS) sentiasa komited memastikan piawaian keselamatan kebakaran bagi bangunan super tinggi ini memenuhi kriteria bertaraf dunia. Bagi projek berskala besar sebegini, standard keselamatan hanya dapat dikekalkan melalui penyelenggaraan yang konsisten. Pelaksanaan SPKA jelas memperkasakan lagi koordinasi pasukan penyelamat semasa kecemasan.”

    Dato’ Ir. Ts. Izwan Hasli Mohd Ibrahim, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd mengulas: “Sijil Perakuan Bomba ini adalah bukti bahawa Menara Merdeka 118 telah mencapai matlamat keselamatan kebakaran yang ditetapkan. Sebagai mercu tanda negara, fokus kami bukan sekadar patuh kepada peraturan, tetapi memastikan keselamatan diterapkan dalam setiap aspek operasi. Dengan SPKA, kami menawarkan lapisan perlindungan tambahan yang lebih cekap. Ini memberikan keyakinan penuh kepada penyewa dan pengunjung bahawa mereka berada di dalam bangunan yang dilindungi oleh piawaian pengurusan keselamatan terbaik di dunia.”

    Menara Merdeka 118 juga merupakan antara pembangunan utama yang mendapat sokongan Malaysia Supertall Secretariat (MSS), sebuah organisasi keselamatan perintis di Asia untuk bangunan melebihi 300 meter. MSS memainkan peranan penting dalam memperkukuh pengurusan kecemasan melalui kolaborasi strategik antara pemilik bangunan dan pihak berkuasa. Pengiktirafan ini turut menyertai senarai kejayaan lain, termasuk menjadi bangunan pertama di Malaysia yang menerima status MD Nexus bagi infrastruktur dan ekosistem digital bernilai tinggi.

    Melengkapkan kecemerlangannya, Menara Merdeka 118 turut memegang pensijilan LEED Platinum, pengiktirafan triple platinum (GreenRE & Green Building Index), serta Pensijilan WELL Core Platinum. Dengan ketersambungan yang lancar dan piawaian pejabat Gred A, Merdeka 118 terus mengukuhkan kedudukannya sebagai destinasi perniagaan dan gaya hidup pilihan di Kuala Lumpur yang mengutamakan kelestarian serta keselamatan menyeluruh.

  • Mastercard Unveils AI Centre of Excellence to Transform Payments in Southeast Asia

    Mastercard has announced a significant advancement in its ASEAN AI strategy with the successful rollout of authenticated agentic transactions across multiple markets in the region, alongside plans to establish a regional AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore. These developments underscore Mastercard’s commitment to promoting secure and transparent agentic commerce while preparing the region for AI-driven payments at scale.

    The initial wave of authenticated agentic transactions in Singapore and Malaysia, with additional markets expected to follow, demonstrates the readiness of ASEAN for interoperable AI agents capable of enabling safe, transparent transactions. For the first region-wide testing, Mastercard collaborated with UOB, leveraging the bank’s extensive network to ensure that future deployments could scale across diverse markets. In parallel, Mastercard worked with local banks in each country to support localized implementations, laying the groundwork for broader regional expansion as more stakeholders participate.

    Safdar Khan, Division President for Southeast Asia at Mastercard, said, “The first wave of authenticated agentic transactions across ASEAN shows how quickly the region is embracing secure, AI-enabled commerce. With early pilots now live, Mastercard is demonstrating that AI agents can operate responsibly and transparently, giving consumers confidence that every transaction is authenticated and anchored in verifiable intent.” Jacquelyn Tan, Head of Group Personal Financial Services at UOB, added, “Our multi-market collaboration with Mastercard shows how trusted, AI-driven payments can enhance everyday banking and commerce, tailored to diverse lifestyle needs across the region. As adoption grows, we continue to combine innovation and strong governance to scale these capabilities across borders, unlocking greater value for consumers and businesses across ASEAN.”

    Mastercard Agent Pay represents the next phase of AI-powered commerce by providing the framework and safeguards needed for secure AI-initiated transactions. By combining tokenized credentials, verifiable intent, and end-to-end auditability through Mastercard Agentic Tokens and Payment Passkeys, the platform ensures that every AI-driven transaction aligns with consumer authorization and trust expectations. As commerce becomes increasingly autonomous, Mastercard is introducing Verifiable Intent, a standards-based trust paradigm co-developed with Google, which creates a tamper-resistant record of user authorization and serves as a shared source of truth for consumers, merchants, and issuers.

    Later this year, Mastercard will launch its regional AI Centre of Excellence in Singapore, combining its innovation hub, advanced cybersecurity capabilities, and AI expertise to form its largest innovation space in Asia Pacific. The centre reflects Mastercard’s broader commitment to advancing AI in the region, building on more than a decade of AI applications across its network, including fraud detection, cybersecurity, and real-time risk management. Supported by deep data assets, established governance frameworks, and over 2,000 global data scientists, engineers, and consultants, the CoE is designed to accelerate AI readiness.

    “Trust is the currency of the AI economy. As connected commerce expands across ASEAN, data is key to transforming payments into seamless and intuitive experiences. Mastercard’s AI Centre of Excellence, together with regional collaborations, will strengthen the frameworks necessary for AI-powered commerce to scale responsibly. By pairing innovation with strong governance, we are laying the foundation for AI-initiated payments that are secure, interoperable across borders, and inclusive for consumers and businesses throughout Southeast Asia,” concluded Khan.

  • HONOR 600 Series Unveiled Featuring Advanced Camera Innovation and Superior Image Stabilisation

    HONOR 600 Series Unveiled Featuring Advanced Camera Innovation and Superior Image Stabilisation

    HONOR today officially unveiled a first look at the HONOR 600 Series, its latest flagship lineup. The reveal highlighted a striking Golden White finish alongside a new flagship design crafted using premium cold-carving techniques. Following its strategic repositioning into the flagship segment, the HONOR 600 Series is set to deliver industry-leading performance, including top-tier camera specifications. The devices will feature a powerful 200MP main camera, professional-grade CIPA 6.5 image stabilisation, and an impressive 120x zoom. HONOR also confirmed that Malaysia will be the first global market to debut the 600 Series, with the official launch date to be announced next week.

    Building on the 200MP main camera introduced in the HONOR 400 Series, the HONOR 600 Series brings an upgraded flagship camera system engineered for ultra clarity, ensuring exceptional colour accuracy even in low-light conditions. Its enhanced telephoto capabilities now support up to 120x zoom, allowing users to capture fine details of architecture, wildlife, and portraits from a distance. The telephoto lens also achieves the industry’s highest CIPA 6.5 image stabilisation rating, effectively minimising motion blur and producing sharp, professional-grade images. In addition, the new AI Colour Engine intelligently processes photos to deliver more natural and true-to-life tones.

    In terms of market performance, the N Series has demonstrated strong momentum in Southeast Asia, recording a 333% increase in sales for the HONOR 400 Series in 2025, according to a Counterpoint report. HONOR’s strategy has proven particularly successful in Malaysia, where the brand has rapidly expanded its smartphone presence and established itself as a leading choice among consumers. Throughout 2025, HONOR achieved significant sales growth in the country and is now the number one Android brand, driven largely by strong performance in the premium segment, particularly within the accessible flagship category.

    For those interested in the HONOR 600 Series, HONOR Malaysia will unveil the full lineup along with more exclusive details tomorrow. Stay updated via HONOR Malaysia’s official Facebook page or visit https://www.honor.com/my/.

  • Accelerated Solar Project Delivery Drives 90.5% Profit Jump for Samaiden in Q2 FY2026

    Accelerated Solar Project Delivery Drives 90.5% Profit Jump for Samaiden in Q2 FY2026

    Samaiden Group Berhad (“Samaiden” or “the Company”), a specialist in renewable energy primarily engaged in the development, engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning of renewable energy systems and power plants, has reported strong financial results for the quarter ended 31 December 2025 (Q2 FY2026). The Group recorded revenue of RM102.79 million, marking an increase of 28.4% from RM80.05 million in the preceding quarter. This growth was largely driven by accelerated construction activities and higher progress billings from ongoing utility-scale solar projects. Profit Before Tax rose to RM10.82 million, up 64.9% from RM6.56 million in Q1 FY2026, reflecting improved project momentum and contributions from projects with stronger margin profiles. In line with this performance, Profit After Tax increased by 90.5% to RM9.03 million, compared with RM4.74 million in the previous quarter, highlighting the Company’s ability to translate higher revenue into stronger bottom-line growth.

    Datuk Ir. Chow Pui Hee, Group Managing Director of Samaiden, stated that the quarter’s performance reflects stronger on-site execution and steady progress across key projects. Higher construction activities contributed to increased revenue recognition, while projects with healthier margin profiles enhanced overall profitability. Despite recent increases in solar panel prices, the impact on the Company has remained minimal, supported by early procurement planning, strategic sourcing, and disciplined cost management, ensuring projects remain on track. He emphasized that Samaiden continues to focus on maintaining operational discipline while executing its expanding pipeline of renewable energy projects.

    The renewable energy sector in Malaysia continues to offer significant growth opportunities, supported by evolving policy initiatives such as the updated Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS), the introduction of Feed-in Tariff 3.0 (FiT 3.0), and the Solar Accelerated Transition Action Programme (Solar ATAP), which was implemented following the conclusion of the Net Energy Metering (NEM) programme. Against this positive industry backdrop, the Group expects continued growth momentum from the ongoing rollout of renewable energy initiatives.

    As of 31 December 2025, Samaiden’s order book stood at RM600.5 million, providing a strong foundation for revenue recognition in the coming financial periods. With a healthy pipeline spanning CRESS, LSS5+, the Corporate Green Power Program, and rooftop solar projects, Samaiden is well-positioned to capture further growth in Malaysia’s renewable energy sector.

  • HONOR N Series Repositioned as Flagship with Cutting-Edge Telephoto and AI Features

    HONOR today announced that its N Series will move from a mid-range offering to the flagship category. Combining cutting-edge hardware with advanced computational photography, the upcoming N Series delivers enhanced clarity, precision, and creative flexibility for users.

    HONOR has equipped the new N Series with top-tier hardware and advanced imaging systems, including the Snapdragon Elite-level chipset. This ensures flagship-level performance while maintaining everyday usability and creative capabilities.

    The new N Series redefines long-range photography with a redesigned telephoto system, offering sharper details and professional-grade composition. Users can capture vast landscapes or candid shots from a distance with exceptional clarity.

    In addition to hardware improvements, the N Series introduces advanced AI imaging. The enhanced AI Image-to-Video feature allows users to turn still photos into cinematic videos, bringing memories of loved ones, friends, and pets to life with emotional resonance.

    The device also features a refreshed, premium design. Using advanced cold carving craftsmanship, HONOR has achieved a sleek, polished finish that improves both durability and tactile experience. The result is a sophisticated in-hand feel that balances elegance, strength, and comfort, reflecting flagship-level design.

  • HONOR Receives Global Acclaim at MWC 2026 for Robot Phone Breakthrough and Magic V6 Foldable Excellence

    HONOR Receives Global Acclaim at MWC 2026 for Robot Phone Breakthrough and Magic V6 Foldable Excellence

    Global AI device ecosystem leader HONOR has garnered widespread international recognition at Mobile World Congress 2026, securing over 70 media awards for its advancements in augmented human intelligence, robotics innovation, flagship foldables, and its expanding AI-powered ecosystem. The brand’s presence at the annual tech showcase highlighted its ambition to redefine how users interact with intelligent devices, with major attention drawn to its futuristic Robot Phone and next-generation flagship lineup.

    Among the standout innovations, HONOR’s Robot Phone captured global headlines as a bold step toward embodied AI. Designed to transform mobile hardware into a responsive, lifelike companion, the device integrates robot-grade motion with cinematic imaging capabilities. International media outlets praised the concept for pushing boundaries—blending artificial intelligence with real-world interaction—while tech reviewers described it as an early glimpse into a future where smartphones evolve beyond tools into personal, adaptive companions.

    In the foldable segment, the HONOR Magic V6 emerged as a defining highlight, widely recognised for setting a new benchmark in performance, durability, and design. Featuring an ultra-thin form factor, IP69-rated resistance, and powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform, the device has been hailed by global tech media as a milestone in foldable innovation. Its balance of endurance, power, and premium engineering positions it as a new gold standard in the category.

    HONOR’s innovation was further validated when it received the prestigious Global Mobile Awards for “Best Disruptive Device Innovation,” awarded for the Magic V6’s advanced silicon-carbon battery technology. With an industry-leading 25% silicon content, the battery delivers significantly higher capacity within an ultra-slim body. The company also unveiled its next-generation silicon-carbon blade battery, boasting 32% silicon content and an impressive energy density of 985 Wh/L—marking a major leap forward in high-performance, compact energy solutions.

    Beyond smartphones, HONOR reinforced its ecosystem strategy with the introduction of the HONOR MagicPad 4 and HONOR MagicBook Pro 14 (2026), both recognised as new benchmarks for mobile productivity. The MagicPad 4 impressed reviewers with its ultra-slim design and powerful performance, while the MagicBook Pro 14 was praised for delivering significant advancements across AI computing and user experience. Together, these devices demonstrate HONOR’s commitment to building a seamless, high-performance ecosystem tailored for professionals, creators, and everyday users.

    These accolades underscore HONOR’s growing influence in the global tech landscape, as the company continues to push forward its vision of a cohesive AI device ecosystem. By combining cutting-edge hardware with intelligent software integration, HONOR is not only enhancing device performance but also reshaping the future of human-device interaction.

    For more information about HONOR’s MWC 2026 announcements, please visit www.honor.com.

  • Exabytes and MYNIC Power Malaysia’s Digital Transformation, Award Tesla Model Y as Grand Prize

    Exabytes and MYNIC Power Malaysia’s Digital Transformation, Award Tesla Model Y as Grand Prize

    Exabytes, Southeast Asia’s leading provider of AI hosting, business applications, e-commerce, and digital solutions, in partnership with MYNIC Berhad, Malaysia’s official .MY domain registry, recently celebrated a major milestone in the nation’s digitalization journey with the conclusion of its nationwide digital adoption campaign, highlighted by the giveaway of a brand-new Tesla Model Y. The grand finale, held at the Tesla Experience Centre in Cyberjaya, brought together business leaders, entrepreneurs, and ecosystem partners dedicated to advancing Malaysia’s digital economy. The event was officiated by Eric Foo, Deputy CEO of Exabytes, alongside Encik Hafiz Shahrel Hanafiah, Senior Vice President of Operations, MYNIC, with participation from representatives of both organizations.

    The campaign, which ran throughout 2025, aimed to empower Malaysian SMEs to build credible and competitive digital identities by registering selected .MY domain names with Exabytes. Each registration, whether a new purchase or renewal, earned entries for the Tesla Model Y grand prize, culminating in the announcement of the winner, Mr. Wong Toong Poo, founder of DIY Business System. Wong shared, “Digital transformation starts with a single, decisive step. With Exabytes and MYNIC’s guidance, we’ve strengthened our digital foundation, managing 278 active MYNIC domains and leveraging nearly 11 years of partnership. Early investment in digital infrastructure truly makes a difference, and I encourage fellow Malaysian entrepreneurs to take that step.”

    Mr. Wong Toong Poo, Founder of DIY Business System, with his grand prize Tesla Model Y at the Tesla Experience Centre, Cyberjaya.

    The campaign attracted over 20,000 businesses, generating more than 70,000 entries, reflecting the growing awareness of digital readiness and the rising demand for reliable local domains, scalable digital infrastructure, and online solutions to support sustainable growth. Through its GROW Digital initiative, Exabytes continues to provide SMEs with domain registration, web hosting, cloud services, and comprehensive digital solutions, while MYNIC reinforces the value of local domain ownership as a symbol of credibility, trust, and national pride.

    Eric Foo highlighted, “Digital transformation is accelerating, and SMEs must move with it. Our campaign aimed to strengthen digital foundations, and the overwhelming response shows the importance of digitalization for future-ready growth.” Encik Hafiz Shahrel Hanafiah added, “A strong digital presence starts with a trusted digital identity. Registering a .MY domain reflects credibility and local trust, essential for Malaysian businesses to thrive in the digital economy.”

    The Tesla Model Y, chosen as the grand prize, symbolizes clean energy, innovation, and forward-thinking technology, paralleling the transformative power of digital adoption. Building on this momentum, Exabytes and MYNIC plan to continue driving digital adoption through AI-powered solutions, cybersecurity awareness, and smart digital marketing initiatives, enabling Malaysian businesses not only to establish an online presence but to scale, innovate, and build trust in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

  • The AI Infrastructure Dilemma: Getting Ready for the Era of Agentic AI

    The AI Infrastructure Dilemma: Getting Ready for the Era of Agentic AI

    As the world races to establish leadership in Artificial Intelligence (AI), governments and industries are grappling with urgent demographic and economic pressures, from aging populations to shrinking workforces and the imperative to boost productivity. In this context, the emergence of agentic AI—systems that do more than respond, but reason, plan, and take autonomous actions—represents a transformative shift with profound implications for infrastructure, innovation, and national competitiveness. Unlike traditional AI models that answer queries, agentic AI can manage extended workflows independently: booking flights, updating schedules, sending reminders, or adapting plans dynamically based on external factors. This proactive, collaborative intelligence will require significantly more compute power, not only to process individual tasks but to orchestrate reasoning, planning, and continuous adaptation across billions of simultaneous users and applications.

    The challenge extends beyond GPUs, which have traditionally dominated AI conversations for training and inference. CPUs, high-speed interconnects, memory, and networking form the backbone of modern AI infrastructure, coordinating workloads, managing data movement, and supporting real-time system orchestration. High-performance CPUs, such as AMD EPYC™ 9005 Series, are critical for running AI workloads efficiently, particularly as models evolve into more modular and distributed architectures like mixture-of-experts systems. Connectivity is equally vital: smart network interface controllers (NICs), low-latency interconnects, and scalable fabrics ensure seamless, high-throughput data flow, enabling agentic AI to operate at scale with minimal delays. The convergence of these components into heterogeneous, rack-scale systems is essential for orchestrating complex, real-time interactions between billions of AI agents.

    Openness in software, hardware, and systems design emerges as another strategic priority. Closed ecosystems risk vendor lock-in and limit flexibility at a time when agility is crucial to scale AI. Open software stacks like AMD ROCm™ enable developers and researchers to build, optimize, and deploy AI models across diverse environments, supporting popular frameworks like PyTorch and TensorFlow while offering portability and performance tuning. Open hardware standards, including the Open Compute Project (OCP), the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink), and next-generation networking frameworks from the Ultra Ethernet Consortium (UEC), provide the modularity, high-bandwidth connectivity, and interoperability needed for distributed AI systems. These open initiatives empower cloud and data center operators to build flexible, energy-efficient infrastructure capable of supporting both global AI innovation and local differentiation.

    For countries like Malaysia, embracing an open, heterogeneous AI ecosystem is not simply a technical decision—it is a strategic imperative. National competitiveness in the age of agentic AI depends on the ability to deploy scalable, high-performance infrastructure that supports complex workloads, facilitates local innovation, and ensures technological sovereignty. The upcoming release of AMD’s Helios, a next-generation rack-scale reference design, exemplifies the integration of high-performance compute, open software, and scalable architecture necessary to meet the demands of agentic AI in 2026 and beyond.

    Looking ahead, the successful adoption of agentic AI requires a holistic approach to infrastructure: CPUs and GPUs must work in tandem, high-speed networking and interconnects must provide low-latency data movement, and open software and modular rack-scale systems must enable flexibility, innovation, and interoperability. By investing in such infrastructure, Malaysia and other nations can harness the transformative power of agentic AI to drive automation, innovation, and sustainable economic growth while navigating the global AI race.

  • AMD Launches EPYC Embedded 2005 Series Processors: High-Performance, Energy-Efficient Solutions in a Compact Form Factor for Networking, Storage, and Industrial Applications

    AMD Launches EPYC Embedded 2005 Series Processors: High-Performance, Energy-Efficient Solutions in a Compact Form Factor for Networking, Storage, and Industrial Applications

    AMD has unveiled its latest EPYC Embedded™ 2005 Series processors, engineered to deliver high-performance, power-efficient computing in compact designs tailored for networking, storage, and industrial environments where power, space, and thermal constraints are critical. Built on the proven Zen 5 architecture, these processors feature up to 16 x86 cores, 64 MB of shared L3 cache, and configurable thermal design power (TDP) ranging from 45W to 75W, offering designers the flexibility to optimize for performance, energy efficiency, and thermal management. The processors come in a highly integrated 40mm × 40mm BGA package, 2.4 times smaller than comparable Intel Xeon solutions, enabling higher compute density, shorter electrical paths for better signal integrity, and improved thermal performance, making them ideal for 24/7 operation in constrained infrastructures.

    The EPYC Embedded 2005 Series also delivers exceptional performance per watt, with up to 28 percent higher boost CPU frequency and 35 percent higher base CPU frequency compared to comparable Intel solutions, enabling superior performance density and lower total system cost. These processors are purpose-built for long-life deployments, supporting up to 10 years of continuous field operation, component availability, and technical assistance, alongside 15 years of software maintenance, ensuring stability and a strong return on investment. Advanced Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability (RAS) features detect, prevent, and correct errors to minimize downtime, while application-specific features such as BMC support, PCIe Hot Plug, and multi-SPI ROM provide additional design flexibility. Security is reinforced with AMD Infinity Guard technologies, including AMD Secure Processor, AMD Platform Secure Boot, and AMD Memory Guard, safeguarding data integrity and system reliability for mission-critical applications.

    Connectivity and modularity are central to the EPYC Embedded 2005 Series, offering 28 lanes of PCIe Gen5 for high-speed I/O integration, including Ethernet NICs, FPGAs, and networking ASICs, while DDR5 memory support ensures higher memory bandwidth and future-proofing as DDR4 phases out. The processors are complemented by a robust open-source software ecosystem, with upstream support for Yocto, kernel drivers, and the Extended Development Kit (EDK II), simplifying integration and accelerating time to market. Targeting AI-driven workloads, modern networking switches, routers, DPU control planes, cold cloud storage, aerospace, and robotics applications, the AMD EPYC Embedded 2005 Series delivers the performance, energy efficiency, security, and longevity required for the next generation of embedded infrastructure systems.