Jakarta (ANTARA) – Indonesia’s Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria has stressed the need for stronger governance of artificial intelligence as autonomous AI agents enter the financial sector.
In a statement confirmed in Jakarta on Friday, Nezar said AI in financial services had entered a new phase with agentic AI capable of making decisions and executing transactions independently.
“Agentic AI, when given certain decision-making authority, can also conduct transactions. Those transactions can occur between agentic AIs, with AI systems communicating to make decisions,” Nezar said.
The development is changing how AI risks are viewed in finance. When AI serves only as an assistant, humans retain final decision-making authority. But when AI can make decisions and execute actions, system errors can directly affect transactions and consumers, he said.
“The risks are certainly significant, so we must prepare mitigation measures and regulations starting now,” Nezar said.
The government, therefore, needs governance rules before highly autonomous AI becomes more widespread. The framework should address authority limits, human oversight, accountability, data security and risks from AI-to-AI interactions, he added.
The Communications and Digital Ministry has a 2023 ministerial circular on AI ethics as a reference for responsible AI use.
The government is also preparing a National Artificial Intelligence Road Map and AI ethics guidelines as part of Indonesia’s AI governance framework.
“This is being processed so it can become a presidential regulation, along with guidelines for AI ethics,” Nezar said.
AI is also changing the skills needed in finance. Workers must understand data governance, AI risk management, cybersecurity, ethics and accountability, not merely how to use AI, he said.
“Top talent in the AI era must not only be skilled in technology but also ensure that technology remains human-centered,” he said.
Nezar said the Communications and Digital Ministry and Financial Services Authority (OJK) have a strategic opportunity to cooperate on safe financial AI innovation, including governance, talent development and cross-sector sandbox testing.
“Collaboration between the Communications and Digital Ministry and OJK will form the backbone of an innovative and secure digital financial ecosystem,” he said.
For consumers, such governance is crucial because AI decisions in finance can directly affect transactions, services, personal data and access to financial products.
The government must ensure technological advances are matched by clear accountability when AI decisions create risks or losses. With agentic AI entering finance, regulatory challenges extend beyond governing technology use.
The government must determine who is accountable when AI makes decisions, how those decisions are supervised and how consumers are protected.
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Translator: Farhan AN, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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