Indonesia is making significant strides toward its technological future with the introduction of "Sahabat-AI," a sovereign AI initiative developed through partnership with NVIDIA and various local stakeholders. This initiative seeks to support the country's abundant population of 277 million Indonesian speakers by bolstering digital sovereignty and promoting inclusivity across diverse sectors. The event marking the launch featured notable personalities like Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, and Indonesia's Minister for State-Owned Enterprises, Erick Thohir, showcasing the collaborative nature of this high-tech endeavor.
Central to Sahabat-AI is its foundation in open-source Indonesian large language models (LLMs) created using NVIDIA's advanced NeMo and NIM microservices. These models are not just abstract concepts; they offer practical applications accessible to local industries, educational institutions, and government bodies, fostering the development of generative AI applications more relevant to Indonesian users.
The Indonesian telecom giant, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, plays a leading role, utilizing its GPU Merdeka cloud service, powered by renewable energy, to accelerate this initiative. The infrastructure is developed at the BDx Indonesia AI data center and aims to bolster industries across multiple sectors including energy, healthcare, and finance, leveraging cutting-edge technology to amplify their efficiency and effectiveness.
Part of Indosat's strategy is its collaboration with global firms like Accenture and Tech Mahindra to tailor industry-specific applications based on Sahabat-AI's frameworks. These partnerships facilitate the creation of artificial intelligence solutions, particularly aimed at enhancing sovereign data governance and boosting operational efficiency across varied sectors. Tech Mahindra is particularly focused on developing AI chatbots capable of fluent interaction in Bahasa Indonesia, which is expected to improve citizen and resident access to government services.
Healthcare applications are another exciting avenue for Sahabat-AI. By integrating advanced AI models, Hippocratic AI is aiming to create digital agents capable of engaging with patients as effortlessly as human staff, paving the way for improved healthcare accessibility and quality throughout Indonesia. On-demand service provider, GoTo, is also tapping Sahabat-AI's potential by enhancing its AI voice assistant, Dira, to facilitate localized customer interactions.
Looking to the future, Lintasarta, one of Indosat's subsidiaries, plans to expand its AI infrastructure utilizing advanced NVIDIA technologies, all rooted in the commitment to sustainable and secure digital development. This progressive initiative aligns with Indonesia's ambitious vision for 2045, known as the Golden Indonesia vision, which aspires to fully realize the nation’s digital potential.
Notably, this movement isn't confined to Indonesia alone. NVIDIA's sovereign AI technologies are already being deployed to similar initiatives worldwide, including India, Japan, and Taiwan, underscoring the global relevance and impact of collaborative technological advancements.
Further underlining Indonesia’s commitment to advancing its artificial intelligence capabilities, Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison is set to build an AI center located at the Solo Technopark, with aspirations for future centers in Jakarta and Jayapura. Announced by CEO Vikram Sinha during Indonesia AI Day 2024, this initiative highlights the need for supportive policies, partnerships, and talent development to nurture the country’s sovereign AI ecosystem.
The Solo center is backed by international players such as Google, NVIDIA, and Northstar, and aims to establish key components including startup incubation, digital skills training, and research through collaboration among AI experts. This ambitious plan not only signals the start of AI advancements but also hints at the inclusivity principle, ensuring all regions, especially underrepresented areas like Jayapura, benefit from digital advancements.
Vikram Sinha expressed, “To establish a sovereign AI foundation, we required support for policies and incentives, increased partnerships to accelerate AI adoption, and digital talent development.” With this mix of government support and private-sector innovation, Indonesia stands at the cusp of transforming its socioeconomic fabric through artificial intelligence.
While focusing on building tech capabilities, the emphasis is also placed on sustainability and autonomy, addressing fears around data governance and security, which are pivotal to the integrity of any sovereign technological initiative. The approach taken by Indosat and its partners prioritizes local needs and governance, presenting a responsible model for nations aiming to invest and innovate through technology.
This initiative is not merely about technological deployment but rather about enabling Indonesia to cultivate its own digital ecosystem, ensuring the country's voice remains central to the development of services and applications relevant to its citizens. The horizon looks promising as Indonesia gears itself to become not just consumers of technology but pivotal players on the global stage of artificial intelligence.
