The PIKOM AI Masterclass Music Festival 2026 (PIKOM AI Festival) delivered one of its most memorable moments when a guitar signed by legendary Malaysian band Alleycats was auctioned for charity, fetching a winning bid of RM5,000. The three-day event, held from July 24 to 26 in Petaling Jaya, was organized by the National Tech Association of Malaysia (PIKOM) through PIKOM Academy, in collaboration with Gig for Good and Musicians for Musicians (MfM).
PIKOM AI Festival 2026 Blends Technology And Live Music
PIKOM, founded in 1986, represents over 2,000 members across Malaysia’s digital technology industry. The organization worked with Gig for Good and Musicians for Musicians to shape the festival’s format, which drew a full-house audience across its three-day run. The charity auction extended the festival’s themes beyond technology, with the signed Alleycats guitar serving as a focal point for community engagement.
The PIKOM AI Masterclass Music Festival 2026 marked the first time PIKOM incorporated a live music element into an AI-focused event. The festival was designed to explore the intersection of artificial intelligence, creativity, and human potential, positioning music performance alongside discussions on AI’s influence on industries and the future of work.
The charity auction was preceded by a 30-minute live performance from Alleycats, as attendees sang along to the band’s catalogue of timeless hits, with the performance widely regarded as one of the evening’s centerpieces. Bidding for the signed guitar opened at RM1,000 before competitive interest pushed it to its final price – the winning bidder, a woman from the audience, received the memorabilia on stage in what became one of the event’s standout moments.
“With a full house, an unforgettable performance and a meaningful charity contribution, the evening demonstrated that even in an era driven by artificial intelligence, human experiences continue to create the strongest connections,” the organizer noted.
Pokdepinion: AI conferences have been trying to seem more human for years, and apparently the answer was to put Alleycats on stage and auction a guitar (which probably is more effective than another panel discussion about sentient machines).
