Jakarta, INTI - Telecommunications analyst Heru Sutadi said Indonesia’s artificial intelligence (AI) policy direction is broadly aligned with global developments, particularly through the adoption of risk-based governance, ethical principles, and responsible AI practices.
“In my view, the direction is already fairly aligned, particularly as Indonesia has begun developing risk-based governance that emphasizes ethics, transparency, accountability, and human oversight,” Heru told ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Indonesia Strengthens Responsible AI Governance
The Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Institute said the government’s national AI policies, including the National AI Roadmap and AI Ethics framework, are consistent with the growing global emphasis on responsible AI development and deployment.
However, he noted that Indonesia still needs to strengthen implementation, particularly in technical standards, AI auditing, data quality, security, talent development, and research capabilities.
“We are on the right track, but the next challenge is turning the roadmap and ethical principles into practical implementation across different sectors. Indonesia should not become merely a market; it should become an AI player on the global stage,” he said.
Turning AI Potential into Domestic Capability
Heru said Indonesia has strong foundations to expand its role in the global AI ecosystem, particularly given its large market, extensive data resources, and broad demand for AI applications across industries.
Indonesia has also become the first ASEAN country to complete UNESCO’s AI Readiness Assessment. Nevertheless, Heru pointed to gaps in computing infrastructure, talent, research, and AI investment compared with countries such as Singapore.
“The challenge is turning these advantages into domestic technological capabilities. Indonesia should not only be an AI market, but should also build the capacity to independently develop, test, deploy, and govern AI,” he said.
Heru also highlighted the need for stronger national coordination in developing Indonesia’s AI capabilities. He said ongoing initiatives remain fragmented, meaning the country’s overall AI development agenda has yet to become fully integrated.
He emphasized that responsible AI principles will be increasingly important for ensuring that Indonesian AI technologies gain broader international acceptance.
According to Heru, trust is a key foundation for AI development. Technologies that advance rapidly but are unsafe, biased, or use data without adequate protection could face difficulties gaining public and international acceptance.
“Indonesia needs to ensure that AI delivers inclusive benefits, does not widen the digital divide, uses energy efficiently, and respects personal data protection,” he said.
Adopting responsible AI principles could also help Indonesian AI products gain greater acceptance in international partnerships by aligning them with emerging global AI governance standards.
“Responsible AI is not a barrier to innovation. Instead, it is a prerequisite for ensuring that Indonesian innovation earns the world’s trust,” Heru said.
Conclusion
Indonesia’s AI policy direction is increasingly aligned with global trends, particularly in responsible governance, ethics, and risk management. However, strengthening domestic infrastructure, talent, research, investment, and policy coordination will be crucial for Indonesia to move beyond being an AI market and build globally competitive AI capabilities.
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