KUALA LUMPUR: Harvard University student Chooi Je Qin, better known as “Jay” Chooi, has been named Malaysia’s Rhodes scholar for 2026, Yayasan Khazanah said.
He will pursue a three-year PhD in Computer Science at the University of Oxford, where he plans to focus on preparing society for the challenges and risks posed by increasingly powerful artificial intelligence systems.
Born and raised in Johor Bahru, Chooi made history as the first Malaysian to win a gold medal at the International Olympiad in Astronomy and Astrophysics.
He later founded the Malaysia in the International Science Olympiads (AMISO) initiative to expand access for local students to compete on a global stage.
Currently undertaking a joint Bachelor’s degree in computer science and mathematics, alongside a concurrent Master’s in statistics at Harvard, Chooi has had his research featured in the MIT Technology Review and presented at leading machine-learning conferences.
He said his goal at Oxford is to advance work in AI safety, warning that rapid technological progress could outpace policymaking and expose societies to risks such as algorithmic bias and large-scale job displacement.
“Progress in AI is accelerating, but policymakers are unprepared for systems that could surpass human capabilities within the decade. This may be the most consequential decade, and we need more people across the AI safety spectrum — including policymakers, technical researchers, journalists, and investors,” he said.
Malaysia’s national secretary for the Rhodes Trust, Tan Sri Shahril Ridza Ridzuan, praised Chooi’s academic excellence and commitment to public service, noting Yayasan Khazanah’s strategic role in supporting Malaysian applicants. He said Chooi embodies the “forward-looking leadership Malaysia needs.”
“Through this partnership with Yayasan Khazanah, Malaysian applicants gain a clear pathway into the global Rhodes community, supported by Khazanah’s long-standing mission to cultivate future leaders with strong academic, leadership, and national service potential.
“Chooi Je Qin represents the kind of forward-looking leadership Malaysia needs — someone whose brilliance is matched by a deep desire to serve, and who is thinking seriously about the opportunities and responsibilities that come with knowledge,” he said.
Established in 1903, the Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship programme in the world, aiming to develop future leaders through postgraduate studies at the premier university.
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