Jensen Huang, the CEO of technology giant Nvidia, expressed on Friday his vision of Malaysia becoming a significant hub for artificial intelligence (AI) "manufacturing" as Southeast Asia expands its data center capabilities. While not confirming ongoing talks with local conglomerate YTL Corp., Huang emphasized the crucial role Malaysia could play in AI data center development, citing the country's expertise in manufacturing aspects like packaging and assembly. While acknowledging YTL's exceptional leadership, Huang highlighted Malaysia's success in the data center infrastructure layer of computing, making it a vital player in the AI and cloud computing landscape.

Huang underscored Malaysia's strengths in packaging, assembly, and other manufacturing components that align with the demands of AI production. Nvidia's collaboration with 80 AI startups in Malaysia further signifies the country's potential in fostering AI innovation. Huang envisioned Southeast Asia evolving into a prominent AI computing hub, emphasizing the necessity for region-specific data centers that integrate cultural, linguistic, and societal nuances for effective AI applications. While not detailing plans for every region, Huang expressed confidence in Southeast Asia's ascent as a crucial technology hub, citing its excellence in various aspects of the technology supply chain, including packaging, assembly, and battery manufacturing.