Indonesia readies strategic steps to bridge gap in AI capability

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Indonesian Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is mapping out strategic measures to bridge the Artificial Intelligence (AI) capability gap amid high public adoption of the technology.

These steps are designed to ensure that AI utilization goes beyond basic applications to drive meaningful transformation across the education, healthcare, financial services, and government sectors.

"Adoption alone may not be enough, simply using AI is not sufficient. What truly matters is our capability in utilizing it," Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria said during a discussion forum in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 15).

According to a ministry statement confirmed on Thursday, Nezar noted that Indonesia currently ranks among the countries with the highest AI adoption rates globally.

However, this high adoption rate has yet to be matched by a deep, comprehensive ability to leverage AI, both among individuals and businesses.

According to him, this capability gap is evident in the wide divide between highly proficient users and the average user, as well as the uneven adoption of AI across businesses.

Most businesses still use AI solely for basic operational needs, with only a small fraction leveraging the technology to transform their business models.

Furthermore, millions of micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are not yet fully integrated into the digital ecosystem, leaving them unprepared to make the most of AI.

To address the challenges, the Indonesian government is strengthening the foundation of AI development by preparing the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, National AI Road Map, and National AI Ethics regulations, ensuring that AI development is safe, goal-oriented, and beneficial to the public.

Strategic steps to address the digital skills gap and enhance AI utilization extend to the education sector.

The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs is promoting the structured use of AI in educational environments while ensuring safety and age-appropriateness for students.

Furthermore, efforts to boost AI utilization also include the healthcare sector, with the technology expected to assist healthcare workers in performing faster initial diagnoses, thereby expanding access to medical care for communities in remote areas.

According to Nezar, in the financial services sector, AI can be utilized to detect fraud and support human resource development efforts and recruitment processes.

As for the public sector, the government is promoting the use of AI to boost civil servant productivity and improve the quality of public services.

To build an inclusive, responsible, and sustainable national AI ecosystem, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs continues to strengthen collaboration with various stakeholders.

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Translator: Farhan Arda, Raka Adji

Editor: Primayanti

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