Indonesia Launches AI Readiness Assessment Methodology in Collaboration with UNESCO

Jakarta, INTI – The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Informatics (Kementerian Komunikasi dan Informatika) has partnered with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) to launch the Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM AI). This initiative is part of Indonesia's effort to implement global standards for ethical AI governance as recommended by UNESCO.

“UNESCO's Readiness Assessment Methodology is designed to help countries evaluate their preparedness to adopt globally established ethical standards,” explained Deputy Minister of Communication and Informatics, Nezar Patria, following the launch of Indonesia's RAM AI in Central Jakarta on Monday, May 27, 2024.

Accelerating AI Governance in Indonesia

According to Deputy Minister Nezar, the RAM AI launch in Indonesia was initially scheduled for June but has been expedited to ensure finalization by September.

“We launched today and aim to complete the process by September, which is a fast track. Typically, RAM takes six months. Both UNESCO and we are committed to completing it by September,” he emphasized.

Comprehensive AI Readiness Evaluation

Post-launch, UNESCO will conduct various activities, including stakeholder interviews and an assessment of Indonesia's AI ecosystem.

“UNESCO will evaluate social, economic, technological, and regulatory aspects, as well as the readiness of society to adopt AI technology,” said Deputy Minister Nezar.

Given the development of AI in Indonesia, Nezar is optimistic about the advancement of AI implementation. Over the past five years, AI has been integrated into various industrial sectors, including mass media. The government is closely monitoring this technological adoption through further studies.

“For instance, some media broadcasts now use generative AI for newsreading. However, AI and journalism present significant challenges, and discussions on the subject are ongoing. We are exploring business models that can optimize journalistic work using AI without resulting in misinformation and disinformation,” he noted.

Global Commitment to Ethical AI

In addition to Indonesia, 139 UNESCO member countries have adopted and committed to implementing RAM AI. This initiative supports member states in measuring their readiness to apply AI ethically and responsibly for the benefit of all citizens.