Artificial intelligence (AI) has become an essential driver of digital transformation worldwide. In Indonesia, the adoption of AI across sectors has gained momentum, but the pace varies significantly between industries. Chapter 3 of Indonesia’s AI Future Report reveals that while e-commerce, finance, and healthcare have rapidly embraced AI, other sectors such as sustainability and education still lag behind. Understanding this variation is crucial to ensuring that AI adoption across sectors benefits the entire economy and society.

E-Commerce: AI as the Hidden Driver of Growth

Indonesia’s e-commerce sector has been at the forefront of AI adoption across sectors. With a booming digital economy projected to reach USD 130 billion by 2025, platforms rely heavily on AI for recommendation engines, logistics optimization, and fraud detection. AI enables businesses to personalize consumer experiences, manage inventory, and streamline payment systems.

Small businesses, however, face challenges in accessing AI tools due to cost and lack of digital literacy. Strengthening AI-related education and providing inclusive access to AI solutions will be vital in bridging this gap.

Finance and Banking: Balancing Innovation with Security

Banking and finance are among the most advanced areas of AI adoption across sectors in Indonesia. From credit scoring to fraud prevention, AI has transformed financial services. The Financial Services Authority (OJK) has issued ethical guidelines to ensure fairness, accountability, and transparency in the use of AI in finance.

Despite these advances, security remains a major concern. Data breaches, adversarial inputs, and training data manipulation highlight the risks associated with AI-driven financial services. Establishing clear frameworks for responsibility and data localization will be essential for strengthening trust in the financial sector.

Healthcare: Unlocking Access with Human Oversight

Healthcare presents one of the most promising frontiers for AI adoption across sectors in Indonesia. AI-powered diagnostics, telemedicine platforms, and medical imaging tools can help bridge the gap in healthcare access across the vast archipelago. The Ministry of Health has initiated a regulatory sandbox to test AI in clinical environments before wider deployment.

Nevertheless, human oversight remains critical. Doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers must be trained to interpret AI insights responsibly. Ensuring accountability among AI developers, healthcare providers, and regulators is essential to maintaining patient safety and trust.

Education and Sustainability: Catching Up Slowly

Compared to other industries, education and sustainability remain slower in AI adoption across sectors. In education, the government has introduced guidelines for the responsible use of generative AI, but implementation is still fragmented. Teachers need better training to integrate AI as a complementary tool, while safeguarding academic integrity.

Sustainability, meanwhile, represents an untapped opportunity. AI can play a transformative role in climate forecasting, renewable energy management, and disaster risk reduction. Yet, investment and collaboration remain limited. Building structured datasets relevant to environmental challenges and fostering cross-sector partnerships could accelerate AI adoption in this critical sector.

Conclusion

The varying pace of AI adoption across sectors highlights both opportunities and challenges for Indonesia. To maximize benefits, the government, industry, and academia must work together to ensure inclusive adoption. By strengthening governance, investing in talent, and tailoring AI applications to sector-specific needs, Indonesia can unlock the full potential of AI in driving equitable economic growth.

Sources:

• Indonesia’s AI Future Report, Chapter 3: The Varying Pace of AI Adoption Across Sectors (2025)
• OJK AI Ethics Code, 2023