KUALA LUMPUR (07 September 2026) – Malaysian Gen Z are entering a working world where artificial intelligence is reshaping jobs, careers and opportunities faster than ever, with automation replacing or transforming certain roles and increasing concerns around unemployment and underemployment among young workers.
Against this backdrop, Malaysian-headquartered artificial intelligence leader IQI pulled 30 teams of real estate agents and in-house staff out of their regular roles last week and challenged them to develop AI tools and applications that could improve the way the company operates, with a cash prize awaiting the winning team.
IQI is already an artificial intelligence leader in Malaysia, supported by its in-house AI Task Force, AI-powered proprietary apps and portals, and a hybrid approach to large language models that combines frontier AI providers with locally hosted, open-source models.
The Hackathon also responds to one of Malaysia’s key workforce challenge, artificial intelligence is changing the skills employers need. As more routine tasks become automated, young workers who understand how to build, apply and work effectively with AI could gain access to new career opportunities and become better prepared for the changing employment landscape.
“The problem is not that our young people lack ability. It is that too few of them get the chance to work with the technology that will help determine who succeeds in the next decade,” said Daniel Ho, Juwai IQI Co-Founder and Group Managing Director.
Daniel said employers also have an important role to play in helping their teams develop the capabilities required as artificial intelligence becomes more widely adopted across industries and workplaces.
“As employers, IQI takes seriously the responsibility of training our team members in the latest technology. The young people who learn on the job at IQI today will be better prepared to help Malaysia move forward as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into the way we work.”
The initiative also received positive feedback from industry and digital ecosystem representatives, who highlighted the value of giving participants opportunities to build practical solutions, explore new career possibilities and address real workplace challenges through AI.
Mindy from StarProperty said, “This hackathon, in my opinion, is actually very good. It really opens up a lot of potential AI creator, content creator, and you are not just limiting them doing selling, but they are now thinking about the whole process, the whole ecosystem. So this is really a good initiative.”
Their feedback reflects the broader purpose of the initiative, which is not only to expose participants to AI, but also to give them a platform to identify real problems, develop practical ideas and explore how those solutions can be applied in the workplace.
For IQI, however, the Hackathon is not only about teaching employees how to use new technology. It forms part of a broader effort to spearhead IQI’s transformation into an AI-native organisation, where artificial intelligence becomes embedded across the company’s operations, decision-making, systems and workflows.
“Another lesson from the Hackathon is that becoming an AI-native organisation requires more than simply introducing AI tools,” said Daniel.
Promising innovations and solutions will be evaluated for implementation across IQI’s company structure, systems and operational processes, allowing ideas created by employees to become practical tools that improve productivity and the way teams work.
“This Hackathon is about giving our people the opportunity to think differently, solve real business challenges and actively contribute to how IQI evolves with AI,” said Daniel.
By giving employees the opportunity to build with AI rather than simply use it, IQI aims to develop a workforce capable of adapting to technological change, creating practical solutions for the organisation and preparing Malaysian talent for an increasingly AI-driven workplace.
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