MyDigital and Pepper Labs Partner to Expand AI Learning

MyDigital Corporation and Pepper Labs have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand inclusive artificial intelligence (AI) learning through the Rakyat Digital platform, a national digital learning hub created by Malaysia's Ministry of Digital. The collaboration supports Malaysia's Towards an AI Nation 2030 agenda under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13), aiming to develop future-ready talent and enable more Malaysians to participate in the digital ecosystem. The platform expands on the original Rakyat Digital portal launched in 2024, which focused solely on digital literacy programmes, by combining learning opportunities with tools and resources under the 3A (Awareness, Access, and Adoption) approach.

Key Facts

The MyDigital and Pepper Labs partnership is defined by specific programmatic targets and institutional backing, including a goal to strengthen AI capabilities for up to 50,000 Malaysians.

What Is the Purpose of the MyDigital and Pepper Labs Partnership?

The partnership connects the national scale of Rakyat Digital with the community reach of Dapur Digital to turn AI awareness into access and meaningful adoption, particularly for communities that may not be reached by online learning alone. The collaboration is part of Malaysia's Towards an AI Nation 2030 agenda, also under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13). The stated goal is to have citizens contribute towards the development of future-ready talent and enable more Malaysians to participate in the digital ecosystem.

Adrian Marcellus, CEO of MyDigital Corporation, explained the rationale behind the collaboration:

"Malaysia's AI Nation ambition will be realised not by technology alone, but by whether people can use it confidently and responsibly to improve their lives and livelihoods. This partnership connects the national scale of Rakyat Digital with the community reach of Dapur Digital. It shows how collaboration can turn awareness into access, and access into meaningful adoption – especially for communities that may not be reached by online learning alone."

— Adrian Marcellus, CEO of MyDigital Corporation

The partnership explicitly aims to address the gap between digital awareness and practical AI adoption for underserved Malaysian communities.

How Will the Partnership Expand AI Learning Through Rakyat Digital?

The partnership will support broader AI upskilling efforts under Pepper Labs' AI-Ready Malaysia initiative, with selected programmes expected to be featured on Rakyat Digital's Digital Skills Hub. This integration allows the national platform to offer AI-specific learning content alongside its existing digital literacy resources. The initiative is supported through the AI Opportunity Fund for Asia-Pacific, implemented by AVPN with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Per the official statement from MyDigital PR:

"The partnership will also support broader AI upskilling efforts under the Pepper Labs' AI-Ready Malaysia initiative, with selected programmes expected to be featured on Rakyat Digital's Digital Skills Hub. Supported through the AI Opportunity Fund for Asia-Pacific, implemented by AVPN with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the initiative aims to strengthen AI capabilities for up to 50,000 Malaysians, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), university students and educators. Pepper Labs will complement the digital learning programmes to accelerate AI literacy and responsible AI adoption nationwide."

— MyDigital PR

The initiative aims to strengthen AI capabilities for up to 50,000 Malaysians, including MSMEs, university students, and educators.

Who Is This For?

The Rakyat Digital expansion targets Malaysian citizens who need practical AI skills, with specific focus on Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), university students, and educators. The programme is designed for individuals and organisations that may not be reached by online learning alone, emphasising community-level engagement through the Dapur Digital network. The 3A approach (Awareness, Access, and Adoption) guides the platform's design to serve users at different stages of digital competency.

The initiative is particularly relevant for:

• MSMEs seeking to strengthen AI capabilities for business operations
• University students requiring AI literacy for future employment
• Educators needing to integrate AI concepts into teaching
• Communities that lack access to conventional online learning platforms

This programme is designed for Malaysians who need practical AI skills but may require community-based support to achieve meaningful adoption.

Common Questions

What is the Rakyat Digital platform?

Rakyat Digital is Malaysia's national digital learning hub created by the Ministry of Digital through MyDigital Corporation. It expands on the original portal launched in 2024, which focused solely on digital literacy learning programmes, by combining learning opportunities with tools and other resources.

How many Malaysians will benefit from the AI upskilling initiative?

The initiative aims to strengthen AI capabilities for up to 50,000 Malaysians, including Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), university students, and educators. The programme is supported through the AI Opportunity Fund for Asia-Pacific, implemented by AVPN with support from Google.org and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

What is the 3A approach driving the Rakyat Digital portal?

The 3A approach stands for Awareness, Access, and Adoption. This framework guides the latest iteration of the Rakyat Digital portal, which combines learning opportunities with tools and other resources to help Malaysians participate in the digital ecosystem and contribute to future-ready talent development.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based exclusively on the source material published by Lowyat.NET on the MyDigital and Pepper Labs partnership. The primary source is the official announcement from MyDigital PR, including a direct statement from Adrian Marcellus, CEO of MyDigital Corporation. All facts, statistics, and quotes are drawn verbatim from the source material. No external data was added or extrapolated.

This article was last updated on August 2026.