Jakarta, INTI – The rapid development of digital technology has positioned data as a strategic asset for the nation. In an exclusive interview with INTI Talk, Rudi Rusdiah, Chairman of the Big Data and AI Association (ABDI), highlighted the growth of the data industry, the importance of personal data protection, and strategies for building a talent and infrastructure ecosystem to embrace the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- ABDI Transformation: From Big Data to AIFounded in 2016
ABDI initially focused on the development of big data. However, with technological advancements, the association has since incorporated AI into its mission.
“AI without big data will be a hallucination,” Rudi emphasized, stating that AI can only develop optimally when supported by strong big data.
- Data Explosion and Industry Projections
Indonesia currently generates about 5.2 exabytes of data per month a number that continues to grow with the increasing use of the internet, IoT devices, and video content.
According to Rudi, Indonesia's big data industry is projected to reach a value of USD 1.5 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of 15.3%, significantly outpacing the national economic growth average.
- Four Major Challenges: Talent, Security, Infrastructure, and Fragmentation
Indonesia’s national data ecosystem continues to face several significant challenges that must be urgently addressed. First is the talent gap the country still lacks an adequate number of data scientists, AI engineers, and other digital professionals essential for driving digital transformation across sectors. Second, data security and privacy have become critical concerns, especially with the increasing number of data breaches. This highlights the pressing need for the full and consistent implementation of the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Law.
The third challenge lies in digital infrastructure. In remote and underdeveloped areas known as 3T regions (frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged areas) network quality and data accessibility remain poor, creating a digital divide that hampers inclusive growth. Lastly, data fragmentation within government institutions continues to be a barrier. Data is scattered across multiple agencies with little to no integration, which hinders effective data-driven decision-making.
- ABDI’s Role: Collaboration, Education, and Standardization
As a committed association, the Indonesian Big Data & AI Association (ABDI) plays a vital role in addressing these challenges. ABDI actively promotes capacity building through training and certification programs, such as Hadoop workshops, Data Protection Officer (DPO) training, and AI certification courses.
In addition, ABDI fosters multi-stakeholder collaboration by partnering with the government, academic institutions, and industries to support initiatives like the Satu Data Indonesia program. The association also hosts strategic forums, including the Indonesia Data-AI Summit 2025, a flagship event held in collaboration with INTI, which serves as a key platform for advancing data and AI adoption in the country.
- Key Sectors Driving Big Data and AI Adoption
ABDI Chairman Rudi highlighted several sectors that are leading the way in adopting big data and AI technologies. E-commerce and on-demand service platforms such as Tokopedia, Shopee, and Gojek process hundreds of terabytes of data daily to better understand customer behavior and improve their services. In the fintech and digital banking sectors, daily transaction volumes have reached an impressive IDR 52 trillion, underscoring the need for real-time data analytics and secure digital ecosystems.
The telecommunications sector is also a major player, with Telkomsel processing up to 20,000 terabytes of data each day. On the government side, programs like Satu Data, Smart City, and AI-powered dashboards reflect the growing use of data-driven approaches in public service and planning. Meanwhile, foreign investors such as Microsoft, AWS, Alibaba, and several Taiwanese firms are investing in GPU-based data centers, laying the foundation for future AI factories in Indonesia.
Conclusion
Indonesia stands at a critical crossroads in its digital transformation. According to Rudi Rusdiah, data readiness and AI development will be the backbone of the nation's digital economy progress. Indonesia's success will depend on its willingness to collaborate across sectors, invest in talent, and integrate data comprehensively.
“If we are not prepared, we will become a market. But if we can build the ecosystem, we can become a key player,” Rudi concluded optimistically.
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