Expert Staff Of The Minister Of Communication And Information Asks Industry Players To Facilitate Data Centers Amid High AI Adoption In Indonesia

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (Kemenkominfo) stated that the adoption of high-generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Indonesia needs to be a concern, especially in the provision of infrastructure.

Expert Staff to the Minister of Communication and Informatics for Technology, Mochamad Hadiyana, said that like a program in general, a generalized AI also requires technology infrastructure to support it, one of which is a data center.

"The use of a generating AI requires a data center to be able to manage the information needed by its users. At this point, data center and cloud computing services are needed," said Hadiyana at the IBM Think Experience and Tech Summit 2023, in Jakarta, yesterday.

According to Hadiyana, the combination of data centers and public clouds as hybrid clouds is an alternative that provides users with optimal utilization of cloud computing features, including to utilize AI.

"This condition certainly opens up opportunities for significant cloud development. The dynamics of domestic AI development has also advanced," said Hadiyana.

The survey from IPSOS in 2023 noted that Indonesia is the most optimistic country, if AI will bring more benefits than losses.

"This optimism is motivated by the diverse use of AI in Indonesia. For example, to support work, find ideas, or even AI has been adopted by industry or government agencies, campuses and others," said Hadiyana.

Hadiyana added that this condition is in line with the use of AI-based applications that are able to increase community productivity.

"My institutional utilization also knows that various companies in Indonesia have used AI. For example, Gojek, which has used the AI system for the process of selecting driver partners or food for users," said Hadiyana.

"There are also halodocs that use natural language processing to help information doctors before making decisions for patients," he added.

Compared to the presence of hybrid clouds as supporting infrastructure, Hadiyana noted, the increase in the use of AI shows a correlated relationship.

As for IDC data in 2022, 81 survey respondents plan to increase cloud utilization, in line with this, 67 percent of Indonesian public sector players have adopted cloud computing as infrastructure for digital transformation.

"To support the wider use of AI, the Ministry of Communication and Information has been trying to present supporting policies since 2020. Although it has not fully regulated the use of AI in the form of do and don't," explained Hadiyana.

In the use of AI in the public sector, the government is currently conducting an internal assessment regarding the use of hybrid clouds with the implementation of the National Data Center or PDN.

In accordance with Presidential Regulation number 95 of 2018 concerning Electronic-Based Government Systems. The Ministry of Communication and Information is mandated to organize Electronic-Based Government System (SPBE) infrastructure, which participates in PDN, Government Intra Network and Government Service Collection System.

"To facilitate the needs of existing ministries or institutions, as well as local governments, the Ministry of Communication and Information has now prepared a Temporary National Data Center (PDNS)," explained Hadiyana.

When the construction of PDNS is complete, a migration from PDNS to PDN will be carried out.

However, considering the increasing need for data storage, the government understands that the current supply of PDN will not be optimal, if only carried out by the government.

"In the future, a mechanism for providing PDN will soon be decided which will also involve relevant industry players as a step to facilitate data storage needs," said Hadiyana.

"This effort is a manifestation of the Ministry of Communication and Information from upstream to downstream in supporting AI and hybrid cloud growth in Indonesia," he continued.