New · See every ThinkChat feature in action. Take a look →
ThinkChat
Start free trial

Knowledge AI

AWS’s Semarak AI Malaysia: six months of free AI tools for 10,000 SMEs, and what to ask first

AI 3 min read

On 4 November 2026, Amazon Web Services (AWS) launched a national program called Semarak AI Malaysia at its Cloud and AI Day in Kuala Lumpur. One part of it is aimed straight at small businesses.

What AWS announced

AWS says the program has three parts:

  • AI Negara, for the public sector. AWS plans to give up to 445,000 government officers access to Amazon Quick, its AI assistant for work.
  • AI Ekonomi, for businesses, including SMEs and local software companies.
  • AI Rakyat, for communities, including students and lecturers at polytechnics and community colleges.

The part for SMEs

Under AI Ekonomi, AWS is working with GD XCHANGE, the solutions arm of the delivery company GDEX, and with the AWS distributor VSTECS. According to AWS:

  • Eligible SMEs get six months of free access to Amazon Quick and Kiro.
  • The free access comes after an AI readiness assessment.
  • The goal is to onboard 10,000 SMEs by 2028.
  • The program starts with the SMEs GDEX already serves in e-commerce, retail and manufacturing.

Amazon Quick is AWS’s AI assistant for everyday work. Kiro is AWS’s AI engineering agent for building software. AWS gives one example: a retail SME using both to track competitor prices and forecast demand, so it can respond to market changes in hours instead of weeks.

AWS’s announcement doesn’t list the eligibility rules, how to apply, or what it costs after the six months. If you’re interested, ask GD XCHANGE (GDEX) or VSTECS directly.

Why this matters for a Malaysian SME

It wasn’t the only big AI news for Malaysia that day. On 4 November, Google announced a US$15 billion investment in data centres and skills in Malaysia for 2027 to 2028. Big tech companies expect Malaysian businesses to use more AI, and free access like this makes it cheaper to try.

Free access only lasts six months, though. What matters is whether the tool still earns its place after that.

Questions to ask before you sign up

1. What problem will it solve? Pick one job that costs you time every week, like price tracking, reports or replying to customers. Then judge the tool on that job.

2. What happens after six months? Ask what it costs to keep using it, and what happens to your data if you stop.

3. Who can see your data? Check what business data the tool needs and who can access it.

4. Who checks the output? AI can make mistakes. Decide who on your team reviews what it produces before it reaches a customer.

5. Does it fit where your customers already are? Internal tools help your team work faster. If your customers reach you on WhatsApp, ask how quickly those chats get answered too.

Where ThinkChat fits

Tools like Amazon Quick help your team with internal work. ThinkChat works on the customer side. It is a multi-channel AI Chat Agent, not a chatbot. WhatsApp is the main channel in Malaysia, connected through Meta’s official WhatsApp Business Platform API or a QR scan, and ThinkChat also works on other channels like Instagram, Facebook Messenger and website chat. It answers from the information you approve, and hands the chat to a person when a customer needs one.

Soft next step

Want an AI Chat Agent to answer your customers 24/7? Talk to Lyia on WhatsApp: +60 11-5515 9317.

This article is general information, not legal advice.

Sources

Checked 5 November 2026.

← All articles