From Daring to Dream to Daring to Build—and Present Yourself
Synopsis
As artificial intelligence becomes part of the way we work, learn and make decisions, we need to ask how we can embrace AI while preserving the qualities that make us human: sound judgment, communication, creativity and individuality.
Ts. Lukas J. Tan believes the future of AI will belong not only to people who know how to use the tools, but also to those who can identify the problems, turn ideas into solutions and contribute to the economic. Through the PENtastic Startup Month 2026, hosted by Digital Penang, OPERiON hopes to encourage young people to discover their abilities, build innovative solutions with confidence and learn to present their ideas to the market, future employers and investors.
I am Ts. Lukas J. Tan from OPERiON, and one of the people behind PDX, the Penang Digitalisation-AI Conference & Exhibition 2026. I am delighted to be part of PENtastic.
PENtastic brings together people with different perspectives and offers a wide-ranging view of how digital technology is developing. Events like this give businesses, talent, educators and communities the opportunity to learn from one another, exchange ideas and explore possibilities for working together. Those connections can help strengthen the foundations of Penang's digital economy.
As part of PENtastic, we are organising an AI Hackathon (www.aifm.asia) to discover and nurture the next generation of AI Future Makers. We want participants to do more than attend a talk or watch a demonstration. We want them to think about real problems, build solutions with their own hands and discover what they are capable of creating.
Embrace AI, but Preserve What Makes Us Human
Artificial intelligence is changing our lives at remarkable speed. It can help us gather information, organise content and generate ideas. It is also becoming involved in more of the decisions we make. AI can save time and open up new possibilities, but we should also consider what may happen if we hand too much of our thinking, expression and judgment over to it.
I worry that if we become accustomed to letting AI do all the thinking and communicating for us, our ability to connect with one another may gradually weaken. Face-to-face conversation, the exchange of ideas and the capacity to build meaningful relationships still matter. They are not simply steps in a process; they are part of how we understand one another and work together.
"We are also beginning to see a growing similarity in the way people speak and write. Some speeches and presentations sound increasingly alike. Their vocabulary, grammar, structure and tone can feel as if they were produced from the same template.", Lukas Said
People often say, "We should stop asking whether AI will replace us and start asking whether we know how to use AI." There is truth in that message. But when we hear the same line repeated in every speech and see it in every presentation, it is worth pausing to ask: are we expressing our own views, or repeating a familiar phrase?"
AI can help us organise our thoughts, but it cannot form our personal judgment for us. It can assist us in expressing an idea, but it should not cause everyone to lose their own voice. Our experiences, observations, opinions and ways of communicating are part of what makes each of us distinct.
I have nearly fallen into that trap myself. That experience reminded me to return to real questions, honest observations and authentic expression. The AI Hackathon is intended to give young people the chance to do the same. We want them not only to learn how to use AI, but also to discover more about themselves and develop ideas and styles of their own.
From Discovering Yourself to Building an Idea
In the AI Hackathon (www.aifm.asia), we want participants to experience more than the excitement of coming up with an idea. They will be encouraged to observe problems, understand the people affected by them, consider possible solutions and use AI and other tools to begin building.
That process can help young people identify their interests and strengths. It also invites them to think boldly. If a problem deserves to be solved, what new approach might I offer? Can I take an idea that seems distant or difficult and turn it into something people can see, discuss and perhaps develop further?
Innovation is not simply a concept that sounds original. It requires people to explore a problem, build and test a solution, listen to feedback and make adjustments. AI can support that work, but people remain responsible for identifying the problem, making choices and standing behind the outcome.
The Ability to Present Is the Ability to Create Impact
In the workplace and in business, people often say they know how to give a presentation. Yet communicating well means more than speaking in front of an audience or creating attractive slides.
When you present an idea to your manager, can you help them understand its value and earn their support? When you meet an interviewer, can you show what you can do and why you are suited to the role? When you introduce a solution to a client, partner or investor, can you explain the problem it addresses and why it deserves further attention?
That is when communication begins to make an impact.
We want participants in the AI Hackathon to learn how to do more than complete a project. We want them to explain their solutions clearly, demonstrate what they have built and help an audience understand why it matters. They will learn to present their ideas—and, through those ideas, to present themselves.
A project can also become a meaningful record of what a young person can do. It can show the problems they care about, how they think, how they use tools, how they work with a team and how they turn an idea into something tangible. These are the kinds of experiences that can help future employers, business partners and investors see a person's potential.
Giving Every Diamond a Chance to Shine
We are organising the AI Hackathon to encourage young people to think boldly, build with purpose and present their ideas with confidence.
Every young person has potential, although they may not yet have had the opportunity to show it. Some are natural observers. Some are designers or analysts. Others have a gift for bringing a team's ideas together. Participants do not need to come from the same academic background, and they do not need to begin with a complete set of technical skills. What matters is that they are willing to take part, learn and bring their ideas into the real world to be tested.
We hope that each participant will find a place where their strengths can contribute. We want their abilities to be recognised, their ideas to be heard and the wider market to understand the value they can bring.
This is more than a competition. It is a journey in which young people can practise thinking, building, collaborating and communicating. We look forward to seeing them start with a problem, develop a solution step by step and stand on stage with confidence to share what they have created.
Your Participation Can Support the Next Generation
We welcome students, educational institutions, businesses and community groups to take part in the AI Hackathon. Your involvement is more than support for an event; it is a way to support young people as they experiment, learn and grow.
When young people have the opportunity to work on real challenges, put forward ideas and present their solutions to others, they gain the confidence to keep developing into people who can create value. That support can extend beyond the event itself. It can help connect talent, businesses and new ideas across Penang's digital ecosystem.
The AI Hackathon is an opportunity for young people to explore AI, understand themselves better, put their ideas into practice and show what they can do. We look forward to witnessing the growth of the next generation of AI Future Makers.
Take Part in the AI Hackathon—and Let Your Light Shine
Join the AI Hackathon (www.aifm.asia) with your observations, ideas and enthusiasm. Work with a team to explore a problem, build a solution and show the world what you are capable of.
Every one of you has the potential to shine. Give yourself the opportunity—and let more people see your light.