January 2026

Our January issue explores how artificial intelligence is redefining work, security and everyday life, from the promises of automation and digital finance to the ethical questions it raises about creativity, ownership and the future of human thinking.

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A publication of Penang Institute, Penang Monthly is the voice of Penang - an inspiring read for the curious Malaysian, featuring stories about the people, ideas, and issues shaping the state's well-being. Sign up for a free account to enjoy unlimited access to all our articles.

Is AI the Next Stage in Human Enlightenment or a Return to Some Dark Age?

2 min read

With the invention and re-invention of printing—first in China, and then in the West—universal literacy, though not achieved even today, became a long-term possibility.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

AI in Cybersecurity: Is It a Blessing or a Curse?

9 min read

The big question, “Is AI in cybersecurity a blessing or a curse?” does not have a simple answer. Like most technologies that fundamentally reshape human behaviour, AI brings transformative benefits, while also creating new areas of risk.

by Howie Chang

Traces of Being: Keshiki and Process in Mina Katsuki’s Tomoe

4 min read

In her exhibition Tomoe, Mina Katsuki lets the layers of her paintings sit in plain sight.

by Tan Shu Min

Preparing the Young for an AI-Driven Future

4 min read

If education is meant to equip students for the realities of today and the uncertainties of tomorrow, we must rethink what it means to be literate, capable and future-ready in the age of AI.

by Wong Lai Cheng

The Growth of Artificial Intelligence

1 min read

The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) is driven by a diverse ecosystem of players, from full-stack platforms and industry-specified vendors to open-source innovators and cloud-native providers.

by Ong Siou Woon & Hajar Ariff

The Financial Revolution That Is Upon Us: Tokenising Currencies with Stablecoins and CBDCs

6 min read

Stablecoins have become a vital asset to hedge against inflation in volatile economies. A survey revealed that 47% of participants in developing countries like Brazil, Turkey and Indonesia, use stablecoins for personal savings and cross-border remittances.

by Kenneth Ong

Highs and Lows in Penang's Urban Development

5 min read

Two major landmarks have sprouted up on Penang Island in the last quarter of 2025—the Penang Waterfront Convention Centre (PWCC) and the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery.

by Ian McIntyre

Four Penang Stories of Teachers and Parents Who Build Rather Than Blame

5 min read

While many children are “farmed” out to schools, tuition centres, iPads and smartphones, there are still those who believe in showing up. We examine four distinct narratives, beginning with a Penang teacher, who once found his classroom in the homes of strangers.

by Agnes Chin

Some Initial Lessons Learned when Training Large Language Models

2 min read

AI training aims at feeding, tuning and perfecting the content in LLMs. Behind facilitating “human thinking” is a great deal of labour-intensive work by many AI trainers.

by Dr. Tan Lee Ooi

Biting the Bullet: Globalisation Slowdown as a Necessary Stage in Global Decolonisation

7 min read

Today the Greater Bay Area (GBA) is the world’s most dynamic economic district, and it has been recognised as the most innovative region in the world, ahead of the Greater Tokyo Area, and then US’ Silicon Valley.

by Dato' Dr. Ooi Kee Beng

A-Z Glossary in Artificial Intelligence

3 min read

AI has roots going back decades. The idea of creating “thinking machines” can be traced to philosophers and mathematicians who explored logic and reasoning, but the formal field of AI began in the 1950s.

by Ir. Dr. Bernard Lim Kee Weng

From Bukit Meriam to Bukit Penjara: Retracing the Landscape of Ancient Kedah

10 min read

When the island of Srai (ไทร)—meaning “banyan tree” in Siamese—had just become attached to the mainland, forming what we now know as Mount Jerai, the king of this ancient land of Kedah embarked on a coastal expedition.

by Eugene Quah & Rexy Prakash Chacko

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