Minister calls Indonesian youth to help shaping AI

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3 hours ago

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Minister of Communications and Digital Affairs Meutya Hafid called on young people to help shaping the development and using of artificial intelligence (AI), saying human judgment and values must remain central.

“The final decision must remain in human hands. We must be the ones leading AI. There are things that cannot be replaced, including empathy and, most importantly, love for our country, because AI has no homeland,” she said at the Indonesia Youth Summit 2026 in Jakarta on Friday (Oct 30).

Indonesia has significant potential in the digital economy, with around 260 million internet users and accounting for 30 percent of ASEAN’s total digital economy, she said.

However, wider technology adoption must be followed by improvements in productivity, innovation capacity, and public protection.

“If economic growth reaches US$360 million dollars by 2030, but our children are not protected, are exposed to pornography and online gambling, and the nation becomes divided; then the growth is not worthwhile. No matter how high economic growth may be, it is not worth pursuing if our humanitarian values are lost or overridden by these machines,” Hafid explained.

AI is also reshaping labour markets. Projections for 2030, presented by Hafid, showed that 92 million jobs could be displaced, while 170 million new jobs are expected to emerge.

The shift underscores the need for young people to acquire relevant skills, particularly in technology and the ability to work alongside AI.

Around 62 percent of companies are seeking workers who can work with AI, while 77 percent are investing in upskilling and reskilling their employees, she said.

In preparing digital talent, the government is promoting stronger science and technology education, research, and collaboration among universities, startups, and investors.

Through the Garuda Spark Innovation Hub, the government has established 10 Innovation Hubs, reached 15,700 talents, supported 80 startups, and recorded direct investment of Rp429.5 billion.

“We need complementary foundations; adequate digital and computing infrastructure; sound governance and the availability of quality data; talent development, research and innovation; as well as access to financing and markets,” she remarked.

The government is also strengthening AI governance through proposed presidential regulations on AI ethics and a national AI roadmap.