Understanding Indonesia's Response to Artificial Intelligence Development: Opportunities and Challenges

Jakarta, INTI - Globally, societies are actively responding to the advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. This includes developing ethical guidelines, governance frameworks, and striving for equitable technology and knowledge transfer.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics Nezar Patria urged Indonesian stakeholders to explore affirmative policies to harness AI technology optimally.

"I urge stakeholders to absorb aspirations regarding the future of AI regulation in Indonesia and explore affirmative policies needed to ensure Indonesia benefits optimally from AI," he stated during his keynote address at the Public Business Discussion: Building AI Governance Regulations for Indonesia: Substance and Projections in Central Jakarta, Wednesday (26/06/2024).

Wamen Nezar Patria sees the development of AI technology as an opportunity for Global South countries, including Indonesia. Apart from bridging the digital divide, the utilization of AI in the economic sector can enhance operational efficiency and accuracy.

"We are witnessing extensive AI adoption by corporations, ranging from customer service to data management, for marketing, production, and various other purposes," he added.

Quoting data from Microsoft Quantum Research Team, Wamenkominfo highlighted AI's success in radically and swiftly processing the screening of 32 million quantum computer materials. However, Wamen Nezar Patria cautioned about challenges faced by Global South countries such as AI infrastructure limitations, funding issues, and knowledge transfer constraints from developed AI countries in the Global South, which exacerbate human resource capacity gaps.

"The transfer of knowledge, in terms of integrating deeper into the global supply chain in production, appears to be a future challenge to ensure we don't merely remain a market for AI development," he noted.

Wamenkominfo remains optimistic that Indonesia will adapt and modify existing innovations like AI technology, positioning itself as a global AI developer. This includes becoming a hub for semiconductor development for AI technology at the regional level, akin to Malaysia.

"If consistently emphasizing technology and knowledge transfer implementation, this is crucial in our future AI development strategy," he emphasized.

Wamenkominfo affirmed this commitment following President Joko Widodo's meeting with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on the Microsoft Innovation Development Partnership and Research Center.

"This is a government commitment to drive all potentials we possess so that we can catch up and align with global developments. We aim to be part of the global supply chain, producing and strengthening AI technology worldwide," he asserted.

Wamen Nezar Patria commended the public discussion initiated by ELSAM, Bisnis Indonesia, and Microsoft.

"Let's create a secure, inclusive, and empowering AI ecosystem in Indonesia," he concluded.

The event was attended by Executive Director of ELSAM Wahyudi Djafar, Chair of LPPM Unika Atma Jaya Jakarta Sih Yuliana Wahyuningtyas, Director of Government Affairs Microsoft Indonesia & Brunei Darussalam Ajar Edi, Chief Technology Officer INDICO Dios Kurniawan, and Head of Unit Social and Human Sciences UNESCO Undral Ganbaatar.

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