The Indonesian government, through the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, has released the White Paper on the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Roadmap, which will serve as a reference for ministries and agencies in responding to the rapid development of AI. One of the key points in the draft document is positioning the State Budget (APBN) as the primary source of funding for national innovation. The white paper also outlines ethical guidelines that serve as a reference for the use of AI in Indonesia.
Iradat Wirid, a digital transformation researcher from the Center for Digital Society at Universitas Gadjah Mada (CfDS UGM), explained that in this white paper, AI is no longer viewed solely as a technological and economic driver, but is also considered from social and cultural dimensions.
This is because placing the burden on AI to accelerate economic growth is no easy task.
“What needs to be strengthened is the human capital. We may already be behind India and China in terms of coding and programming, but in this issue and other emerging technologies, there is still hope if we have a roadmap that also focuses on talent and human development,” he said on Monday (Aug. 25) at UGM Campus.
Wirid noted that Indonesia is not yet fully prepared to adopt new technologies, including AI.
Reports on the Human Development Index (HDI), UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) for AI adoption, and several other indexes highlight this gap.
Therefore, he stressed that public understanding of digital issues must be rapidly improved to prevent the nation from falling further behind.
In addition, Wirid emphasized that the government must encourage responsible and ethical use of AI while keeping in mind that humans are the driving force behind technology.
He underlined that strengthening human capacity to understand technology must remain the top priority.
Without this foundation, society risks experiencing technological disorientation, turning technology into a tool for short-term interests.
“This literacy challenge could escalate into socio-political risks if not addressed as a top priority. The deepfake issue in the last election, for example, could grow and spark new conflicts if there is no strong literacy foundation,” the researcher explained.
According to him, relying solely on content moderation or blocking will not build “natural immunity” within society.
He added that improvements are also needed in Indonesia’s digital infrastructure, which remains uneven and largely concentrated in Java, particularly Jakarta, leaving other regions behind.
“This condition will only widen social disparities in our society,” he added.
Wirid hoped that the white paper would serve as a shared reference to avoid overlapping interests and fragmented implementation that could confuse the public.
He also reminded that neglecting the quality of Indonesia’s human resources has gone on for too long.
“If this becomes a priority, economic growth and social welfare will naturally follow in a positive direction,” he concluded.
Author: Kezia Dwina Nathania
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Lintang Andwyna
Illustration: Freepik