NO doubt the development of artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly growing, ushering in a revolutionary era where robots can assist us in our work. With their help, productivity and efficiency across various fields can increase.
“Leave the menial and boring jobs to the robots, while we focus on the fun and exciting work to our fullest capacity,” said Director General of the Broadcasting Department of Malaysia, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, during his talk at the recent Sarawak Media Conference 2025.
Under the topic ‘Human + Machine: Collaborating with AI’ in the newsroom, Suhaimi spoke about his experience at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) involving the use of AI.
“When I was appointed to work on RTM, I was tasked with making the broadcast channel relevant, relatable, and vibrant again. Due to various challenges, I leveraged AI and robots to assist me.
“They handle the repetitive and mundane jobs, while I focus on the exciting part of broadcasting,” he said.
Among RTM’s applications of AI, Suhaimi’s team developed a Chinese-speaking robot named Aaron Lim to deliver human-interest stories on television. The tech-driven presentation is visionary, efficient, and cost-effective.
At RTM, the team has embraced AI in several other ways:
- Sales – Using AI to match advertisers with the right demographics
- Upskilling – Using AI to determine the most suitable training programmes, trainers, and measurable outcomes
- Research, story ideas, and scripting
“We are embracing technology at RTM. It shortens the content creation process, reduces costs, and that’s why we love AI,” he said on stage.
“Most of us are afraid of new things because they haven’t been tested. AI is like a vision of the future.”
Suhaimi believes in a promising future alongside AI, calling it an engine for transformation, growth, and opportunity.
From building a robust data ecosystem to scaling solutions with speed and precision, AI offers a proactive approach to change that challenges conventional thinking.
AI replacing jobs
With the convenience of AI, Suhaimi acknowledged that certain jobs – particularly tedious and repetitive ones – may be replaced.
“There will be certain jobs that can be taken over by robots. At RTM, we re-train our team members to do more exciting things that add meaning and value to their lives,” he said.
Yes, some jobs will be replaced, but only those that are menial and non-cognitive, he added.
This, he said, presents an opportunity to re-train, upskill, and re-skill into higher-value, creative, and strategic roles that machines cannot easily replicate – roles requiring human intuition, empathy, problem-solving, and innovation.
“For example, I am a journalist. At the same time, I run a cafe in Malacca. I’m part of the crisis communication team. I’m also a painter. I do other things – just in case I’m no longer the flavour of the month,” he elaborated.
Suhaimi encourages others to move forward and prepare themselves for a world that is rapidly changing due to AI and innovation.
“We are a bunch of talented people, and we should leverage that,” Suhaimi said.
