Digital Ecosystem not yet Established

KOMPAS/HENDRA A SETYAWAN

Sophia, a robot supported by artificial intelligence (AI) technology that was activated in 2016 and created by the Hong Kong-based company Hanson Robotics, takes part in a special interview with the media at the 2019 Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Global Dialogue in Jakarta on Monday (16/9/2019). Sophia represents AI technology of the future, when humans and robots can work together in various fields. The robot, which can make dozens of human facial expressions, is expected to be smart enough to help humans in the fields of medicine, education and scientific research.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the development of digitization and the use of artificial intelligence technology in all sectors. To develop the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Indonesia, a lot of work awaits.

Several groups told Kompas last week that the development of the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Indonesia had entered a further implementation stage, especially for industries closely related to technology. To enable it to develop faster, a digital ecosystem must be built.

Head of the Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology (BPPT) Hammam Riza said the government had started the development of an artificial intelligence development ecosystem. On Aug. 10, 2020, BPPT launched the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2020-2045.

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The initiative was carried out, said Hammam, to maintain ecosystem development in the country and prevent the attractiveness of other countries, such as Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, which had previously focused on developing artificial intelligence. He hoped that the document could be passed into a presidential regulation by the middle of this year.

Hammam admitted, there are fundamental problems that must be solved before the development of the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Indonesia can grow rapidly. This weakness lies in the integration of data among institutions. "We are sometimes still egocentric. All data is not shared. It is important as to how we can merge all of this? So that the data is harmonious, reliable, and then it can be used to build artificial intelligence applications," he said.

Kompas/Hendra A Setyawan

Students play traditional games in the Orbit Habibie Festival in Jiexpo, Kemayoran, Jakarta, Thursday (17/10/2019). This festival aims to provide space for innovation for the younger generation to create, work and innovate. The festival presents various sectors such as new technology in robotics, aerospace, artificial intelligence and education.

Productive and efficient

The director of Digital Business of Telkom, Fajrin Rasyid, said the use of artificial intelligence technology must be encouraged so that business processes are more productive and efficient.

"Artificial intelligence can increase income and business value for its stakeholders, as well as encourage more personalized community service, read consumer behavior patterns, analyze them, and then recommend appropriate solutions," he said.

Artificial intelligence can increase income and business value for its stakeholders.

However, according to Fajrin, the development of an artificial intelligence ecosystem in Indonesia still faces many challenges. The best way to build it is through a Penta helix collaboration strategy that involves academics, business actors, communities, government, and the media and society.

Fajrin said the artificial intelligence ecosystem in Indonesia had actually started to appear in the last few years. However, there are still many challenges that await. "One of the big challenges is the issue of talents. A strategic movement is badly needed to strengthen and multiply talents in this field," he said.

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The role of the government is no less important in regulating regulations and national strategic policies for the development of artificial intelligence. "The role of the community and the media is no less important as well in voicing the existence of standardization and regulation of artificial intelligence system. Moreover, to disseminate information on artificial intelligence," he said.

Group Head of Corporate Communication of XL Axiata Tri Wahyuningsih said artificial intelligence development could be faster if ecosystem readiness, data, and skills on the development of artificial intelligence algorithm are synergized.

KOMPAS/ERIKA KURNIA

Discussion on "Big Ideas: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Jobs in Southeast Asia" held at the Australian Embassy, Jakarta, 21 May 2019.

Meanwhile, Head of Corporate Communications of PT Astra International Tbk Boy Kelana Soebroto said that the most important thing that needed to be prepared in the application of artificial intelligence is the human resource side. "Astra in this case plays an active role by running data analytic boot camp, which recruits and trains university graduates from all over Indonesia in each its recruitment stage," he said.

Graduates are recruited and trained to become qualified data science and analytics experts. They are prepared to contribute to the application of artificial intelligence in the business ecosystem.

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Boy said, artificial intelligence was growing rapidly because of the abundance of data in the digital world. Therefore, the active participation of the private business sector in the world of digital innovation will be very important. Astra is currently actively contributing in terms of investment in the digital world and digital business incubation.

"For example, we builds the Movic car rental application platform, the CariParkir parking application, and the automotive portal e-commerce website for new and used car sales, namely www.seva.id," he said.

According to Boy, the support needed in developing artificial intelligence is the synchronization of the preparation of skills in the world of education, especially higher education. "The involvement of the business world in the digital business sector will also be a very important form of support for the ecosystem of implementing artificial intelligence technology in Indonesia," he said.

This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo.