Jakarta, INTI - Telkom Indonesia is rapidly advancing artificial intelligence (AI) talent development across the archipelago. To date, the company has trained more than 16,000 professionals through nine AI Centers located in multiple cities throughout Indonesia.
This initiative is part of AI Empower Indonesia, driven by the AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE), which was launched on August 28, 2025, in Bali. Through this program, Telkom aims to strengthen the national AI ecosystem, not only in Jakarta but also across regional areas.
The nine AI Centers are established in Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang, Makassar, Denpasar (Bali), Aceh, Padang, and Papua. These facilities serve as hubs for training, certification, community discussions, and various AI-related events.
“To date, there have been 351 events held at these centers, and 16,000 digital talents have been trained,” said Komang Budi Aryasa, Executive General Manager of Digital Product at Telkom Indonesia, during the Business Update & Silaturahmi Ramadan Telkom event in Jakarta on Monday (March 2, 2026).
Telkom also collaborates with global partners to provide AI certifications. Out of 5,000 certifications issued, approximately 2,000 were conducted in partnership with international organizations.
The Five Pillars of Telkom AI Center of Excellence
Komang explained that the AI CoE is implemented through five core pillars: AI Campus, AI Playground, AI Hub, AI Connect, and AI Native.
AI Campus serves as a hub for literacy and training for students, professionals, and tech communities. Participants not only learn fundamental concepts but also gain hands-on experience tailored to industry needs.
Telkom collaborates with universities to provide AI talent and foster research and ideas aligned with real-world industry requirements. Currently, AI Campus partners with 10 universities across Indonesia.
AI Playground offers a space for digital talent development, giving participants the opportunity to experiment and innovate. From prototyping to implementation, participants can develop AI-based solutions using a business needs-driven approach.
AI Hub, AI Connect, and AI Native: Building a Comprehensive AI Ecosystem
AI Hub serves as a meeting point for startups, corporations, and educational institutions. Within this space, innovative ideas converge with industry needs, creating opportunities for joint research and development.
Meanwhile, AI Connect links talent with the broader industry ecosystem through networking and collaboration programs, including the AI Talent Development Roadshow. Activities under AI Connect include introductory AI classes, workshops, talent certification programs, AI business consultation sessions, product demos, and practical AI use cases.
Finally, AI Native represents the integration of AI into Telkom’s internal operations, enabling work to be faster, smarter, and more efficient. Telkom has begun applying AI across its business functions and products.
One example is Bizy AI, an AI assistant supporting B2B sales and service activities, allowing more than 23,000 users to easily understand Telkom products. Another is TELIS 2.0, an internal AI tool used across Telkom units, with 96% of employees relying on it to access and understand company policies and regulations.
Komang Budi Aryasa emphasized that these five pillars cannot succeed without talent. To build the AI CoE, Telkom partners with Alibaba Cloud and technology communities such as HiColleagues, providing local talent with access to global-class cloud infrastructure and AI technologies.
Through these partnerships, participants gain hands-on experience with AI solutions applied in sectors such as telecommunications, healthcare, education, and SMEs. Cross-sector collaboration is critical because technology innovation cannot thrive in isolation, it requires a strong ecosystem.
“Through AI CoE, Telkom is executing what I often call AI Empower Indonesia. This initiative helps the government improve bureaucratic efficiency, makes industries more competitive, and enables people to interact with companies more easily using AI. All of this is implemented through our five pillars,” Komang explained.
The AI Center of Excellence demonstrates that technology development is not only about advanced systems, but also about people and equal opportunities. By fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable ecosystem, Telkom aims to ensure that Indonesia is not just a consumer of AI, but a producer and innovator as well.
Conclusion
Telkom’s AI Center of Excellence (AI CoE) demonstrates that building AI capabilities is more than just deploying technology, it’s about empowering people, fostering talent, and creating inclusive opportunities. Through its five pillars, AI Campus, AI Playground, AI Hub, AI Connect, and AI Native, Telkom is strengthening Indonesia’s AI ecosystem, enabling innovation across sectors, and preparing local talent to lead in the AI-driven future.
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