Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is set to become one of the few world leaders to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI) version of himself to interact with the public.
The digital avatar, known as PMX AI, was developed by Malaysian digital infrastructure company Zetrix AI Bhd and is expected to be launched within days, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The name PMX AI refers to Anwar’s position as Malaysia’s 10th prime minister. The initiative, introduced by his political party PKR, aims to use AI technology as a digital extension of the prime minister to engage with citizens.
Zetrix Group managing director TS Wong said the avatar was trained using Anwar’s writings, speeches and government policy records, allowing it to respond in a way that reflects the prime minister’s communication style and views.
“AI will transform governance and politics,” Wong said, highlighting the potential role of artificial intelligence in improving public services and political communication.
Unlike a basic digital chatbot, PMX AI was designed as an agentic AI system, meaning it can process tasks, organise steps and complete certain functions with minimal human intervention.
According to Wong, Zetrix developed a “personal knowledge” model that continuously updates the system with Anwar’s latest speeches and statements, allowing the avatar to provide more relevant responses over time.
A launch video produced by the Prime Minister’s Office described PMX AI as more than just a virtual character, presenting it as a digital platform designed to listen, assist and serve Malaysians.
The avatar is expected to help citizens access government-related services, including guidance on processes such as renewing driving licences, making payments and confirming transactions.
PMX AI can communicate in English and Malay, while also understanding regional dialects, everyday expressions and Malay slang. It is also being developed to assist users in finding suitable government training programmes, employment opportunities and career pathways.
Students may also benefit from the system, with plans for PMX AI to provide personalised education and career recommendations based on individual interests and abilities.
The project reflects Anwar’s push to position Malaysia as a country that embraces artificial intelligence, digital transformation and higher-value industries as the nation moves towards the next general election, which must be held by early 2028.
The introduction of the AI avatar is also seen as part of efforts to connect with younger voters, particularly as technology becomes increasingly influential in daily communication.
Malaysia is not the first country to experiment with AI representations of political leaders. Several global figures have previously used AI-generated versions of themselves for communication purposes.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appeared in AI-generated multilingual messages, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has used AI technology to deliver messages in various Indian languages.
South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung also utilised an AI avatar during his election campaign, allowing the digital version of himself to respond to voters’ questions and deliver campaign messages.
