Jakarta, INTI – The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both challenges and opportunities for Indonesia’s creative economy sector. Amid the industry’s growing need for production efficiency and broader access to global markets, the Ministry of Creative Economy (Kemenekraf) has introduced a new strategic initiative. Minister of Creative Economy Teuku Riefky Harsya emphasized that AI can serve as both a driver of innovation and a growth engine for the nation’s creative industries. He delivered this statement during an official agenda in Jakarta on Tuesday, September 16, 2025. According to him, AI has the potential to accelerate production processes, optimize marketing, and unlock opportunities for international market penetration. Even so, Riefky stressed that human creativity remains the core of the ecosystem, while AI should act as a collaborator, not a replacement for creators.
AI as an Accelerator for the Creative Industry
In his remarks, Riefky stated that the use of AI can accelerate innovation across various subsectors, ranging from design, animation, games, and applications to digital marketing. With the momentum of AI adoption continuing to grow, the creative economy’s contribution is expected to rise further, reinforcing its role as a new engine of national economic growth.
Data from 2024 shows that the creative economy contributed more than IDR 1,500 trillion to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and absorbed over 26.5 million workers. These figures highlight the sector’s immense potential when combined with effective utilization of AI.
Regulatory Challenges and Digital Literacy
Despite the opportunities, the use of AI in Indonesia still faces serious challenges. One key issue is copyright infringement, as creative works are often used as AI training data without a clear licensing mechanism. Riefky emphasized that design, photography, and animation are human creations with moral and economic rights that must be respected.
In addition, limited digital literacy poses another barrier to ensuring that the AI ecosystem operates ethically and productively. For this reason, the government is preparing a strategic framework to balance development aspects covering research, innovation, and intellectual property protection with utilization aspects, which focus on boosting the competitiveness of the creative industry.
Government Support for the Digital Ecosystem
The government is also committed to promoting regulatory harmonization, strengthening ethical AI practices, and supporting local technology startups. Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto added that there are currently 17 economic stimulus packages, one of which is in the digital sector through internship programs for university graduates.
Furthermore, the government has launched the Urban Program in collaboration with the Ministry Creative Economy (Kemenekraf) and the Jakarta Provincial Government. This program provides co-working spaces in the Tanah Abang and Blok M areas as hubs for the growth of the gig economy ecosystem.
Conclusion
Kemenekraf’s move to leverage AI in driving innovation within the creative industry marks a new chapter for the national economy. With strategies prioritizing human creativity, copyright protection, and the strengthening of the digital ecosystem, Indonesia has a significant opportunity to become a key player on the global stage. AI is not a replacement but a strategic partner that will accelerate the growth of the creative industry in the years ahead.
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Author: Nd