I-Bhd unveils RM10mil AI and Robotics rollout to future-proof i-City

New Straits Times

04-06-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: I-Bhd, the master developer of i-City in Shah Alam, has committed RM10 million to deploy artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics infrastructure across its portfolio of income-generating assets, with the initiative expected to be completed by 2028.
In line with its long-term digital strategy, the company is currently in discussions with leading global technology players including Unitree, DeepSeek, and Baidu to transform i-City into a scalable, AI-powered smart city.
The rollout will begin at Mercu Maybank, a 33-storey corporate tower serving as Maybank's alternate headquarters, and will extend to high-profile assets such as Wyndham Suites I-City, Wyndham Suites KLCC, Wyndham Garden, DoubleTree by Hilton i-City, Central-City Mall, the i-City theme park, car parks, a data centre, and residential components.
Director Datuk Eu Hong Chew said the investment is not a trend-driven move but part of a deliberate strategy to ensure long-term relevance and competitiveness for I-Bhd's business and assets.
"We're not just adding tech for the sake of it. This is about sustaining performance, unlocking value, and enabling intelligent systems to optimise asset efficiency and user experience," Eu said.
The initiative aligns with I-Bhd's "value extraction" strategy introduced in 2024 to maximise returns from i-City's RM10 billion gross development value (GDV). With over 50 per cent of completed GDV comprising income-generating properties, the company is now entering a new phase focused on performance optimisation and smart infrastructure.
Under its four-year technology roadmap, I-Bhd aims to embed AI and robotics into both operational systems and customer-facing services—ranging from predictive maintenance and energy management to visitor flow optimisation and robotics-assisted hospitality.
The company's proprietary i-City SuperApp will serve as the digital backbone of the ecosystem, integrating Robotics-as-a-Service (RaaS) features that will eventually be made available to tenants and residents to enhance their operations.
"When we launched i-City, we didn't set out to build just another property development. We set out to build Malaysia's first digital city. We set out to build a place where infrastructure, technology, and people come together to create lasting value.
"That's how we became the first to deploy fibre-to-home as a core utility and build a Tier-3 data centre. But that was just Phase 1.
"We kept the technology ecosystem dynamic and scalable for future enhancements. Today, as technology matures, we are ready and entering Phase 2, where intelligence is embedded into the ecosystem. This phase is where the city starts to think, learn, and adapt," Eu said.
AI will allow the company to manage buildings more intelligently through predictive maintenance, energy optimisation, and visitor flow management, while robotics will assist in service delivery, from concierge bots to logistics and cleaning, he said.
"AI and robots are expensive today, especially for individuals or small businesses. But with RM1 billion in assets, we have the scale to deploy and share this infrastructure. Over time, as the tech matures, we expect it to be accessible within corporate budgets," said Eu.
He added that I-Bhd is following the same playbook it used two decades ago, working with strategic partners to integrate advanced technology that enhances property value and maintains i-City's edge as Malaysia's leading tech city.
"When we started i-City, it wasn't just about building property. It was about building a digital city. Phase one was about infrastructure, fibre-to-home, and Tier-3 data centres. Now we're entering Phase Two, where the city begins to think, learn, and adapt," he said.
Chairman Tan Sri Lim Kim Hong echoed the sentiment, adding that AI and robotics represent the next frontier in delivering value across I-Bhd's ecosystem.