On January 5, 2025, Indonesia marked a significant milestone in its digital transformation journey with the inauguration of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Center at Brawijaya University in Malang, East Java. The center, officially opened by the Minister of Communication and Digital, Meutya Hafid, is the first AI facility established within an Indonesian university.

Minister Hafid expressed her enthusiasm for the center's potential, highlighting its state-of-the-art facilities and the promising impact it could have across various sectors. She emphasized the center's role in developing AI applications that could significantly contribute to areas such as food security, healthcare, agribusiness, logistics, and manufacturing. "We hope that the AI Center at Brawijaya University will produce extraordinary outputs, including AI applications that greatly assist in fields like food security," she stated.

The AI Center is designed to support research and development in artificial intelligence, offering training and certification programs in machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, and AI applications. These programs are available to students, faculty, and professionals, facilitated through collaborations with industry giants such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft, and Google.

In addition to educational initiatives, the center provides consulting services to assist companies and institutions in integrating AI technologies into their business processes and operations. A team of experts is available to guide clients through the planning, implementation, and evaluation stages of AI system adoption, ensuring solutions are tailored to specific organizational needs.

Minister Hafid also addressed the nation's current shortage of digital talent, underscoring the importance of collaboration between higher education institutions and the government to cultivate skilled professionals in the digital arena. She revealed plans to train at least 500 students and provide 100 certifications in the initial phase, with ambitions to expand these numbers in the future. "We predict that by 2030, there will be a need for nine million quality digital talents," she noted, expressing hope that other universities would follow Brawijaya University's example.

Professor Widodo, Rector of Brawijaya University, echoed these sentiments, expressing optimism that the AI Center would enhance collaborative research efforts with partners in AI development. He also sought guidance and support from the Ministry to further advance digital talent cultivation in Indonesia.

The establishment of the AI Center at Brawijaya University represents a strategic step towards strengthening Indonesia's position in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Through collaboration among the government, academia, and industry, the nation aims to become a leading player in AI development within Southeast Asia. Minister Hafid concluded, "We hope this facility will have a tangible impact on society and lead Indonesia towards a brighter future."