AI Untuk Rakyat has moved beyond its original role as a basic AI awareness programme. In 2026, Malaysia is expanding the initiative with a new incentive for young Malaysians: eligible participants who complete the required learning modules under Rakyat Digital are expected to receive three months of free access to leading AI software.
The new phase is scheduled to open on 31 August 2026. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that it will initially target 100,000 Malaysians aged 18 to 30. The Rakyat Digital learning portal itself is already available, so Malaysians can start exploring its free digital courses before the new incentive opens.
2026 update: This guide was fact-checked on 11 August 2026. The government has announced the launch date, age group, target participation and three-month AI software incentive. However, the specific AI software providers and the final redemption process have not yet been officially confirmed. Check the official Rakyat Digital portal for the latest details before applying.
AI Untuk Rakyat 2026 at a Glance
| Item | Latest information |
|---|---|
| Programme | AI Untuk Rakyat, delivered through the Rakyat Digital learning ecosystem |
| 2026 launch | Scheduled to open on 31 August 2026, in conjunction with Merdeka Day |
| Youth incentive eligibility | Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 30, subject to the programme's final terms and completion requirements |
| Initial target | 100,000 young Malaysians |
| Incentive | Three months of free access or subscription to leading AI applications after completing the required courses |
| Named learning areas | AI Safety, CyberSAFE, Agentic AI, Generative AI and Cloud Untuk Rakyat |
| AI apps included | Not officially confirmed as of 11 August 2026 |
| Official platform | Rakyat Digital |
What Is AI Untuk Rakyat?
AI Untuk Rakyat is a free, self-paced online learning programme created to help Malaysians understand Artificial Intelligence without requiring a technical background. The original programme was launched in January 2024 and introduced AI through simple explanations, interactive activities and quizzes.
The programme is now part of the broader Rakyat Digital ecosystem under Malaysia's Ministry of Digital. Rakyat Digital expands the learning journey beyond basic AI awareness into subjects such as generative AI, AI safety, cybersecurity, cloud computing, blockchain and quantum computing.
AI Aware
The first section introduces the fundamentals of AI. It explains what Artificial Intelligence is, how human intelligence differs from machine-based systems, how to distinguish AI from non-AI technology, and how to recognise common misconceptions about AI.
AI Appreciate
The second section explores different AI domains and how they affect industries and everyday life. It also introduces responsible AI principles and AI ethics, helping learners think beyond what AI can do to how it should be used.
The current Rakyat Digital listing describes the core AI Untuk Rakyat course as a beginner programme of about four hours, available in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil. Learners who complete the relevant quizzes receive the AI Aware and AI Appreciate digital badges.
What Changed in AI Untuk Rakyat 2026?
The biggest change in 2026 is the move from awareness-only learning to a more practical learn-and-use model. During the launch of AI Malaysia on 28 July 2026, the Prime Minister announced a new youth-focused phase designed to widen access to AI tools after participants complete selected learning modules.
Three Months of Free AI Software Access
Eligible participants who successfully complete the required AI-related courses will receive three months of free access or subscription to leading AI applications. The incentive is intended to give learners a chance to apply what they have learned with real AI tools instead of stopping at theory.
100,000 Young Malaysians in the First Phase
The government expects the first phase to benefit around 100,000 young Malaysians. The announced age group is 18 to 30 years old, with the enhanced programme scheduled to open on 31 August 2026.
Which AI Apps Will Be Free?
No specific AI software provider has been officially named yet. The Ministry of Digital said the details were still being worked out after the July announcement. For that reason, claims that the programme will definitely include ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Claude or any other specific paid product should be treated as speculation until an official vendor list is published.
You can read the Prime Minister's official announcement on the Prime Minister's Office website.
Who Is Eligible for AI Untuk Rakyat 2026?
For the Free Learning Courses
Rakyat Digital is Malaysia's national digital learning portal for citizens, and the core AI Untuk Rakyat course is designed for people from different backgrounds, including students, working adults, parents and senior citizens. You do not need to be a programmer, data scientist or AI specialist to begin.
For the Three-Month AI Software Incentive
The new 2026 incentive has a narrower target group. Based on the official announcement, participants should expect to meet these core conditions:
- Be a Malaysian citizen.
- Be 18 to 30 years old for the youth incentive.
- Complete the AI-related modules specified under the programme.
- Pass or successfully complete the required learning checks before receiving the AI software access.
- Meet any additional terms published by the Ministry of Digital or Rakyat Digital when the programme opens.
If you are outside the 18-to-30 age range, you can still use Rakyat Digital to build your AI and digital knowledge; the age restriction announced in July applies specifically to the new free-software incentive.
What Courses Are Expected for the 2026 Incentive?
The Prime Minister said the qualifying learning package would include AI Safety, CyberSAFE, Agentic AI, Generative AI and Cloud Untuk Rakyat. These subjects are already represented on Rakyat Digital, although the final 2026 qualification and redemption flow should be checked again when the incentive officially opens.
| Course area | What you learn | Current listed duration |
|---|---|---|
| AI Safety | Responsible and ethical AI use, bias, misinformation, deepfakes and AI risk mitigation | 40 minutes |
| CyberSAFE untuk Rakyat | Cybersecurity basics, personal data protection, scams, mobile security and safer digital behaviour | 40 minutes |
| Agentic AI for All | How AI agents work, agent behaviour, MCP, RAG, practical tools and how to direct agentic systems | 1 hour |
| Generative AI | Generative AI concepts, prompting, popular tools, benefits, limitations and real-world applications | 30 minutes |
| Cloud Untuk Rakyat | Cloud service models, deployment models, security, costs and practical cloud applications | 40 minutes |
Can You Start Learning Before 31 August?
Yes. Rakyat Digital is already live and several of these courses can already be accessed through the portal. Starting early can help you understand the material before the enhanced AI Untuk Rakyat incentive opens, but completing a course early does not by itself guarantee the three-month subscription. Eligibility will still depend on the final programme terms.
How to Register for AI Untuk Rakyat
The most important registration change is that the learning journey has moved to Rakyat Digital. The legacy AI Untuk Rakyat site now tells existing users that their account data has been migrated to the new portal.
New Users
- Visit the official Rakyat Digital website.
- Create or access your Rakyat Digital account through the portal.
- Explore the AI and digital literacy courses available to you.
- Complete the course modules and knowledge checks at your own pace.
- If you are aged 18 to 30, check the official portal again from 31 August 2026 for the youth incentive's final eligibility and redemption instructions.
Existing AI Untuk Rakyat Users
If you registered on the old AI Untuk Rakyat portal previously, you should not need to register again. The legacy site states that user data has been migrated to Rakyat Digital and that existing users can log in using their existing account information to access courses and digital badges.
Important: Avoid following old registration troubleshooting guides that refer to the 2024 phone-number migration deadline or recommend outdated browsers. For current account or login issues, use the support information published on Rakyat Digital.
What Do You Get After Completing AI Untuk Rakyat?
AI Aware and AI Appreciate Digital Badges
The core AI Untuk Rakyat programme awards two digital badges: AI Aware and AI Appreciate. These can be shared on social media or professional profiles to show that you completed the introductory AI learning sections.
It is more accurate to describe these as digital badges, not as a general AI Untuk Rakyat completion certificate. Some other Rakyat Digital courses may issue their own completion certificates, but the current AI Untuk Rakyat course specifically describes the AI Aware and AI Appreciate badges.
Free AI Software for Eligible Youths
For the 2026 youth cohort, the major new benefit is three months of access to leading AI applications after successfully completing the required courses. The exact applications, activation method and detailed terms remain subject to the official announcement.
What Else Can You Learn on Rakyat Digital?
AI Untuk Rakyat is now a starting point rather than the end of the learning journey. Rakyat Digital offers additional beginner-friendly programmes that can help Malaysians build practical digital skills.
Generative AI
A short foundational course covering how generative AI creates text, images and other content, along with prompting, common AI terms, advantages and challenges. The current listing is about 30 minutes and is offered in English, Malay, Chinese and Tamil.
AI Fluency
A longer beginner course that covers AI basics, generative AI, changing search behaviour, responsible AI and accessibility. The current Rakyat Digital listing is about four hours and 30 minutes.
Agentic AI for All
This course introduces the shift from prompt-based AI to systems that can act with more context and autonomy. It covers concepts such as agent blueprints, Model Context Protocol (MCP), Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG), safeguards and everyday AI tools.
AI Safety
AI Safety focuses on responsible use, ethics, fairness, misinformation, deepfakes and practical risk mitigation. This is increasingly important as AI becomes easier to use in school, work and business.
You can explore the latest course catalogue directly on Rakyat Digital.
Why AI Untuk Rakyat Matters for Malaysians
AI literacy is becoming a basic workplace and business skill. It does not mean everyone needs to become an AI engineer. It means knowing what AI can do, where it can go wrong, how to verify its outputs, how to protect sensitive information and how to apply it responsibly.
The scale of the programme also shows growing public demand. In 2025, the Ministry of Digital said more than one million Malaysians had participated in AI Untuk Rakyat within six months, and those users became part of the wider Rakyat Digital initiative.
For Students and Job Seekers
The courses provide a low-barrier way to learn the language and concepts behind AI. That can make it easier to understand AI tools used in education, marketing, administration, customer service, software and many other roles.
For Employees and Business Owners
The next step is to move from general AI knowledge to specific workflows. Instead of asking, "How can we use AI?", businesses can identify repetitive work where speed and consistency matter: customer enquiries, follow-ups, lead qualification, appointment booking, knowledge lookup or status updates.
From AI Literacy to Real Business Automation
AI Untuk Rakyat helps Malaysians understand AI. Businesses then have to decide where AI can produce measurable operational value.
For example, SalesHeroAI applies AI to customer engagement and sales workflows. Rather than using AI only to generate content, a business can use an AI-powered assistant to respond to customer questions, collect lead information, qualify enquiries and keep follow-ups moving.
Examples of Practical AI Workflows
- Instant responses: Answer common questions about products, price, stock, delivery or quotations.
- Lead qualification: Collect information such as customer needs, budget and timeline, then tag leads for follow-up.
- Smart follow-up: Remind prospects automatically when a conversation goes quiet and adjust the next action based on whether they respond.
- Smart replies: Suggest ready-to-send responses based on conversation context so sales teams can reply faster.
- Workflow automation: Use structured AI agents to decide whether to answer, book, update, route or escalate an enquiry.
The useful question for a business is not whether AI is popular. It is whether a specific AI workflow can reduce repetitive work, shorten response time or help the team capture opportunities that would otherwise be missed.
Frequently Asked Questions About AI Untuk Rakyat 2026
Is AI Untuk Rakyat free?
Yes. The AI learning programme on Rakyat Digital is free. The government has also announced a separate three-month AI software incentive for an eligible youth cohort.
When does the AI Untuk Rakyat 2026 incentive open?
The enhanced programme is scheduled to open on 31 August 2026. Rakyat Digital itself is already live, so you can explore available courses before that date.
Who is eligible for the free three-month AI software access?
The government announced an initial cohort of Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 30. Participants must complete the specified AI-related courses and satisfy the final programme terms.
Which AI software or apps will be included?
The specific providers have not yet been officially confirmed as of 11 August 2026. The government has referred to leading AI applications, but any named vendor list should be considered unconfirmed until published by the Ministry of Digital or Rakyat Digital.
Do I receive a certificate after completing AI Untuk Rakyat?
The core AI Untuk Rakyat course currently awards the AI Aware and AI Appreciate digital badges. Other Rakyat Digital courses may provide their own completion certificates, so check the award listed on each course page.
How long does the original AI Untuk Rakyat course take?
Rakyat Digital currently lists the core AI Untuk Rakyat course at about four hours in total, covering AI Aware and AI Appreciate.
Do existing AI Untuk Rakyat users need to register again?
No. The legacy AI Untuk Rakyat site states that existing user data has been migrated to Rakyat Digital and users can log in with their existing account information.
Can Malaysians over 30 still take the AI courses?
Yes. The core learning programme is designed for Malaysians from different backgrounds and age groups. The 18-to-30 restriction applies to the newly announced youth software incentive, not to the general purpose of AI literacy learning.
Official Links and Sources
- Rakyat Digital official portal — current national digital learning platform.
- Legacy AI Untuk Rakyat portal — includes the account migration notice for existing users.
- Prime Minister's Office: AI Malaysia launch speech — source for the 31 August 2026 launch, 18–30 age group, 100,000-youth target and free AI subscription announcement.
- Bernama: AI application details still being finalised.
Conclusion
AI Untuk Rakyat remains one of the easiest entry points for Malaysians who want to understand Artificial Intelligence without starting with coding or advanced mathematics. In 2026, the programme is becoming more practical by linking digital learning with hands-on access to AI software for eligible young Malaysians.
If you want to participate, the best step now is to create or access your Rakyat Digital account, start learning, and check the official portal again when the 2026 incentive opens on 31 August. Most importantly, rely on official updates for the final list of qualifying modules, AI applications and redemption rules rather than unconfirmed social media claims.