Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has urged Muslim scholars and societies to keep pace with artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies.

He has warned Muslim societies that lagging behind in technology could make them vulnerable to outside influence.

Speaking at an event in the city of Kozhikode in the southern Indian state of Kerala, Anwar Ibrahim said that without knowledge we will fail, without understanding artificial intelligence we will fall victim to colonial rule.

Anwar Ibrahim said that religious scholars need to understand the new realities and challenges of the present day, including modern technology, new sciences, digital transformation and artificial intelligence, but the development in technology should not come at the cost of religious and moral principles.

He said that we need knowledge, we need skills, Muslim societies must also ensure that the development of technology protects their faith and moral values.

Malaysia’s Prime Minister warned that new technologies risk introducing values ​​and concepts that can undermine faith and morality, especially when societies lack the knowledge to understand and guide these technologies.

He also expressed concern that Muslim scholars and society are not paying enough attention to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, even though the potential dangers of artificial intelligence are being discussed even among prominent figures in the technology industry.

Malaysia’s prime minister called for a more proactive engagement with artificial intelligence, saying advances in technology should be driven by knowledge, ethics and religious values.

The Prime Minister of Malaysia arrived in Kerala after attending the BRICS Summit in New Delhi.