Alibaba Cloud has officially announced the KaryaWAN AI Challenge that encourages more Malaysians to experiment with AI. Backed by the National AI Office, this challenge revolves around the Wan2.7 video generation model, letting creators, developers, filmmakers, and even AI hobbyists experiment with AI-driven storytelling and real-world applications across industries.
Participants will be going for a total of RM24,000 in prizes, with winners expected to be revealed by the end of June 2026. But beyond the prize pool, the bigger picture here is talent development. NAIO’s Sam Majid frames it as part of Malaysia’s ambition to become an AI-driven nation by 2030, where AI isn’t just adopted but actually applied in meaningful, practical ways across different sectors.
At the same time, Alibaba Cloud’s Malaysia GM Choong Hon Keat is positioning this as a way to make AI tools more accessible to local talent, while bringing together industry players, government bodies, and aspiring innovators into one ecosystem. So instead of AI being something abstract, the challenge is meant to turn it into something people can actively build with.
Partners are part of this too – including academic players and community groups like Persatuan Kreatif AI Malaysia and Prompters Malaya, along with industry partners such as Loomi Entertainment Group, Morphyx.io, TabSpace, and The Digital Workplace contributing to both the creative and technical sides of the challenge.
How to Join
Participants may submit entries under two themes and have to abide by the schedules:
- Theme
- KaryaWAN Visions: Beyond the Frame — Transform bold ideas into surreal, cinematic experiences using WAN AI, where imagination takes precedence over convention.
- KaryaWAN Impact: AI in Action — Demonstrate how creators and professionals leverage WAN AI to solve real-world challenges and enhance everyday workflows.
- Timeframe
- May 7 – Registration closes
- May 16 – Submission deadline
- May 22 – Judge Panel review
- End of June – Winner announcement and awards presentation
More info is available here.
