Indonesia seeks AI sovereignty through local models, digital talent

hartono · Jul 24, 2026

Indonesia seeks AI sovereignty through local models, digital talent

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria during a meeting with Deputy Foreign Minister Arif Havas Oegroseno at the Foreign Ministry Office in Jakarta on Wednesday (July 22, 2026). ANTARA/HO-Kementerian Komunikasi dan Digital

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia is building the foundation for artificial intelligence (AI) sovereignty through the development of an ecosystem that includes local AI models, computing infrastructure, and the strengthening of digital talent.

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria, in a statement here on Thursday, said that mastery of AI in the future would not only be about technological innovation but would also become part of a country's strategic position in the global technology supply chain.

He explained that amid global geopolitical dynamics, more countries are seeking to build AI sovereignty to avoid dependence on major powers for AI technology.

"Middle-power countries are trying to promote sovereign AI because, ultimately, mastery of AI technology will become a choke point for major countries to maintain their dominance," he said.

He emphasized that AI sovereignty must be developed comprehensively by covering the entire stack of basic infrastructure, including electricity, water, GPUs, chips, platforms, and applications.

Patria stressed that Indonesia has digital talent capable of competing at the global level. Therefore, they must be given opportunities to develop their potential through access to AI infrastructure and the necessary technical knowledge.

"As long as our young people and talents are given opportunities, there is no problem. They can access AI infrastructure, acquire the knowledge, and continue fostering creativity and innovation. I am confident that we can compete in the field of compute clusters," he said.

Moreover, Patria said Indonesia also has a strategic advantage in critical minerals, which serve as raw materials for the AI and semiconductor industries.

Steps are needed to utilize those minerals in order to strengthen Indonesia's bargaining position and role in the global supply chain, he stated.