The roadmap sets out priorities, short-term targets and quick-win initiatives to accelerate AI adoption, while the ethics framework introduces governance structures and risk safeguards.
Indonesia has laid out its vision for artificial intelligence, publishing a draft national roadmap and draft ethical guidelines for public consultation ahead of its centennial economic transformation goals in 2045.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs said the public has until Aug. 22 to submit feedback on both documents, which are intended to guide the country’s long-term AI strategy and governance framework.
The white paper — developed by a 443-member task force with representatives from government, industry, academia and civil society — lays out a national AI strategy through 2045, aligning with the government's "Golden Indonesia” vision for inclusive development by its 100th year of independence.
"The preparation of this White Paper serves as a foundation for formulating policy and regulatory strategies to guide the development and use of AI in Indonesia,"
the ministry said in a statement.
The nearly 200-page document frames AI as a catalyst for national growth, with emphasis on its application in key sectors such as food security, healthcare, education, energy, the environment and public services.
In education, for example, it proposes using AI to personalize learning and teacher training. In housing, it suggests AI could be used to prioritize projects based on social impact, optimize land and budget allocation, and streamline the distribution of housing assistance.
To operationalize the strategy, the paper sets specific targets for 2025–2029, including the integration of international AI guidelines into national policy, the launch of regulatory sandboxes, cross-agency data interoperability, expanded AI education programs and a digital innovation hub to support startups.
It also outlines short-term “quick wins” — initiatives that could be rolled out within a year of the roadmap’s adoption — such as applying AI to improve weather forecasting for agriculture and using health check data to provide early medical recommendations.
The draft AI ethics guidelines, published alongside the roadmap, build on a 2023 ministerial circular that established high-level principles for the use of AI in Indonesia. While the circular articulated values such as inclusivity, accessibility, security and accountability, it lacked implementation mechanisms.
The new draft aims to make these principles more actionable, setting out a formal governance framework with role-specific responsibilities for policymakers, developers and users. It introduces safeguards against algorithmic bias, disinformation and accountability gaps, alongside mechanisms to support fairness, privacy and non-discrimination.
Notably, the ethics guidelines are expected to be issued as a presidential regulation, giving them legal force. The draft proposes a two-year transitional period to allow institutions to adapt to the new framework.
While the ethics framework is non-binding in its current draft, the white paper suggests the need for a voluntary validation scheme to recognize AI developers and adopters who complete self-assessments of their ethical compliance.
To support implementation, the draft also includes self-assessment requirements, incident reporting mechanisms and a sectoral monitoring structure intended to feed into an integrated oversight system.
The public consultation marks Indonesia’s most comprehensive AI policy initiative to date. The ministry said it will revise both documents based on stakeholder feedback before proceeding with next steps.
Source: MLex
