YTL AI Labs has officially introduced ILMU, Malaysia’s very own Large Language Model (LLM), at the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025 happening at MITEC. This is not just another AI system, it’s 100% made in Malaysia, by Malaysians, for Malaysians.

YTL AI Labs has officially introduced ILMU, Malaysia’s very own Large Language Model (LLM).
YTL AI Labs has officially introduced ILMU, Malaysia’s very own Large Language Model (LLM).
Image credits: Soya Cincau

ILMU stands for Intelek Luhur Malaysia Untukmu:

  • Intelek (Intellect): Built to be smart, capable of learning, and generating insightful, context-aware responses.
  • Luhur (Integrity): Guided by strong principles of ethics, safety, and integrity.
  • Malaysia: Created locally to serve the nation.
  • Untukmu (For You): Designed to be accessible, relevant, and useful to everyday Malaysian life.

Backed by a full-stack AI investment, ILMU is supported by local data centre infrastructure and AI cloud systems in partnership with Nvidia. It’s already working with over 10 partners, including Aco Tech, Carsome, Ryt Bank, Astro, Swipey, Vision.Machina, MediaPrima, Yes 5G, Vistel and TeeniAi and Malaysians can expect more collaborations on the way.

World-Class performance with a local twist


ILMU is fully multimodal, meaning it can understand and respond via text, voice, and even vision. It also has a deep understanding of Bahasa Melayu, including regional dialects like Kelantanese, something global AI models often struggle with.

ILMU has the ability to undestand Bahasa Malaysia, even with complicated dialects like Kelantanese.
ILMU has the ability to undestand Bahasa Malaysia, even with complicated dialects like Kelantanese.
Image credits: Soya Cincau

During its early 0.1 release, ILMU proved its smarts by passing PT3 and SPM Bahasa Melayu exams with an A grade. On the Malay MMLU benchmark, it outperformed big names like DeepSeek V3, GPT-4o, and even the latest GPT-5, while matching the performance of leading global models such as GPT-4o and Llama 3.1.

Built for Malaysian Context


Whether it’s recommending the best nasi lemak in KL, giving travel tips for small towns, or explaining health regulations like medical marijuana laws based on Malaysian legal standards, ILMU delivers answers that are accurate, culturally relevant, and aligned with local values.

It can also help with formal writing, such as government speeches and letters, complete with proper formats and salutations. It can also switch to Mamak-style banter or even use Bahasa Istana when needed.

Artwork generated by ILMU with local elements.
Artwork generated by ILMU with local elements.
Image credits: Soya Cincau


ILMU’s capabilities extend beyond conversation. Demos like an in-car AI assistant (developed with ACOTech) and image generation with a distinctly Malaysian flavour were displayed. From batik-style visuals to scenes that feel like home, ILMU just nails each task.

Available to public starting on Malaysia Day (16 September)


ILMU’s API is already available for businesses to integrate into their workflows. There’s also an ILMU Accelerator Programme with MDEC, offering USD 1 million worth of ILMU tokens to startups, along with support for Malaysia Digital status applications and talent passes.

For everyone else, ILMUchat will be available for early access starting Malaysia Day, 16 September 2025. Those eager to try it can sign up online now.

With its mix of world-class AI performance and deep local understanding, ILMU is set to become a powerful tool, not just for tech companies, but for every Malaysian who wants smarter, locally-aware AI at their fingertips.

Follow Wah Piang for more updates.