KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has launched an artificial intelligence avatar named PMX.AI that looks and sounds like him, aiming to better connect with Malaysians and enhance public discourse.

The AI avatar, developed by a Malaysian digital infrastructure firm, can interact with voters, listen to their concerns, and gather ground sentiment. In a social media post on Saturday, July 18, 2026, Anwar encouraged Malaysians to chat with PMX.AI on WhatsApp to “begin fostering fresh ideas and meaningful public discourse for our nation and its people.”

A video accompanying the launch portrays Anwar in various superhero-themed roles, including an astronaut, a superhero wielding a Captain America-like shield, and a younger version of himself in a Spiderman-like outfit. The video highlights this initiative as an “evolution of national communications.”

Bloomberg first reported on July 10 that Anwar was set to debut the AI double to help Malaysians navigate government services. According to Wong, the company behind the AI agents, these avatars may assist users in registering for government job-seeking or training programs and renewing driving licenses.

This move follows a precedent set by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, who used an AI avatar extensively during his 2022 election campaign to answer voters’ questions and deliver campaign messages.

Sources