Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital (Kemkomdigi) is expanding its global partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI) through high-level discussions with the University of California, Berkeley.

Deputy Minister Nezar Patria met with Professor Dawn Song, a leading AI and digital security expert from UC Berkeley, during the ATxAI Summit 2025 in Singapore to explore initiatives for ethical, secure, and public-interest-driven AI development.

Formation of AI Safety Institute Network Under Discussion

The meeting focused on the potential creation of an AI Safety Institute Network an international platform for collaboration among governments, academic institutions, industry players, and civil society.

The goal is to support the development of AI that is transparent, aligned with human values, and resilient to emerging risks.

This network would serve as a forum for exchanging knowledge, drafting safety standards, and harmonizing cross-border policies in response to the global acceleration of AI.

“Indonesia has a strong interest in building an AI policy ecosystem rooted in science and global best practices,” said Deputy Minister Nezar Patria.

He emphasized that future AI policy should be grounded in technical research, multidisciplinary expertise, and a balanced approach between innovation and risk management.

Aligning National AI Policy with Global Standards

Kemkomdigi and UC Berkeley also discussed aligning Indonesia’s national AI strategy with internationally recognized frameworks, including the OECD Principles, the Hiroshima G7 Principles, and the UN’s AI Advisory Body initiative.

This alignment is seen as essential for ensuring fairness, transparency, and safety in Indonesia’s AI development.

One of the key proposals from the discussion was the formation of a national advisory body in Indonesia.

This body would consist of AI researchers, ethics experts, legal scholars, and representatives from civil society and industry, offering continuous input on AI regulation and policymaking.

Learning from California’s AI Innovation Ecosystem

Professor Dawn Song shared lessons from California’s AI ecosystem, highlighting how public-private research partnerships, privacy-focused technologies, and venture capital contribute to advancing deep-tech solutions.

She introduced recent developments in Agentic AI—AI systems capable of autonomously performing tasks in sectors such as customer service, education, and digital trade.

These innovations were noted as having high relevance to Indonesia.

Strengthening Infrastructure and Developing AI Talent

The dialogue also addressed Indonesia’s strategic priorities, including strengthening national data infrastructure to protect digital sovereignty and urgently developing digital talent in AI, data science, and cybersecurity.

Both parties stressed the importance of redesigning the national training and education systems through global partnerships and knowledge transfer.

Kemkomdigi is considering concrete follow-up actions such as establishing an AI Safety Institute Network or AI research lab in Indonesia.

This facility would serve as a hub for research and policy collaboration.

The ministry also plans to explore strategic partnerships through Prof. Song’s academic and industry networks, including Oasis Labs and privacy-preserving AI initiatives.

Formal communication is underway to invite Prof. Song to serve as an advisor for Indonesia’s National AI Roadmap, alongside other international AI experts.

PHOTO: KEMKOMDIGI

This article was created with AI assistance.