Indonesia has officially stepped up its artificial intelligence game with the launch of the Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia. Introduced at the Bali Annual Telkom International Conference (BATIC) 2025, this landmark initiative positions Telkom at the heart of AI-driven innovation and digital transformation across the archipelago. Its mission spans from enhancing national competitiveness and supporting SMEs to building local talent and bridging collaboration across sectors. This article explores how the Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia is shaping the AI landscape in Indonesia, the significance of its four pillars, and what it means for the country’s digital future.

Strategic Four-Pillar Framework

The Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia is built on a robust, four-pillar framework designed to holistically empower the AI ecosystem.

AI Campus serves as a collaborative space for universities and academia to work alongside industry players, nurturing research and talent development. AI Playground functions as an exploration lab where innovators can experiment with AI applications in practical environments. AI Connect links AI practitioners, startups, enterprises, and government institutions across nine major cities, including Jakarta, Bandung, Yogyakarta, Malang, Bali, Aceh, Makassar, Labuan Bajo, and Papua. Finally, AI Hub acts as a launchpad for real-world AI solutions, enabling industries to solve sector-specific challenges using AI technologies.

This structure ensures that the Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia can address multiple dimensions: ecosystem development, innovation creation, community engagement, and real-world deployment—all under one unified initiative.

Driving National Digital Transformation

The launch of Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia comes at a crucial time. It aligns with the national digital transformation agenda, supported by the government as directed by President Prabowo Subianto. As a telecom giant, Telkom leverages its extensive infrastructure to bring AI-enabled services within reach of enterprises, government sectors, and MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises). This move enhances national productivity, supports economic inclusion, and strengthens digital sovereignty.

Moreover, Telkom is not alone in this endeavor. A parallel national AI Center of Excellence initiative is underway through collaboration with Indosat, NVIDIA, Cisco, and the Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi), reinforcing Indonesia’s strategic push toward sovereign AI infrastructure and inclusive innovation.

Real-World Impact and Inclusive Reach

Since its launch, Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia has already demonstrated potential impact. From providing AI-powered CCTV analytics that help SMEs optimize operations to enabling efficient customer engagement through AI chatbots and e-KYC tools, the center is poised to deliver practical solutions across sectors.

By spreading across nine cities, the initiative ensures that even remote and underdeveloped areas can benefit from AI advancements. Combined with the broader national AI CoE network led by Komdigi, Telkom’s effort complements the goal of democratizing AI, increasing local talent capacity, and enabling inclusive economic growth.

Looking Ahead: AI Talent, Collaboration, and Ecosystem Growth

Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia plays a pivotal role in nurturing AI talent and fostering collaboration. Through multi-stakeholder engagement—spanning academia, startups, corporations, and government—its impact goes beyond technology. It aims to produce AI-literate professionals, support solution-oriented startups, and encourage industries to adopt AI-driven practices.

Combined with national efforts to train up to one million Indonesians in AI and cybersecurity by 2027, this synergy accelerates Indonesia’s readiness to compete globally in the AI landscape.

Conclusion

The Telkom AI Center of Excellence Indonesia is more than an innovation center—it is a cornerstone for Indonesia's digital future. By anchoring AI development in education, collaboration, innovation, and real-world use cases, the initiative aims to transform the way AI contributes to economic growth, social welfare, and technological advancement. As Indonesia continues its journey toward digital sovereignty and inclusivity, Telkom’s AI CoE stands as a testament to purposeful leadership and strategic collaboration.