Government Must Lead AI Development: Deputy Minister's Perspective
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arif Havas Oegroseno has highlighted the critical role of government in initiating artificial intelligence (AI) development. He stressed that early funding and support for research and innovation are essential to kickstart progress in this field.
"The government has the resources to fund AI development. If it can facilitate experts in gathering and developing AI algorithms, industry players, including game developers, will find it easier to contribute in later stages," Oegroseno explained.
Funding and Time: The Main Barriers
Speaking at the "Exploring the Global South: Epistemologies, Development Pathways, and Research Network" symposium organized by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Oegroseno shared insights from his discussions with the creative industry. He noted that local developers have the expertise but face significant funding and time constraints that prevent them from building their own AI systems.
"Indonesia is relatively advanced in game development, with hundreds of companies offering services for local, regional, and global markets," he said. Despite this, developers prioritize projects that can generate immediate revenue because AI development demands long-term investment.
"They said they don’t build AI not because it's too difficult, but because there's no funding. They focus on developing games that can immediately generate revenue," Oegroseno added. He emphasized that beyond technical skills, AI development requires dedication, time, and sustained investment—resources that the government is best positioned to provide.
Encouraging South-South Cooperation
The symposium is part of PARETO 2025, an annual forum by BRIN's Organization for Governance, Economic, and Public Welfare Research. It gathered representatives from BRICS and ASEAN countries to share regional perspectives that support solidarity and South-South cooperation for future development.
For government and IT professionals focused on AI and development, this highlights the need for public sector leadership in funding and coordinating AI initiatives. Supporting early-stage AI research can unlock greater industry participation and innovation in Indonesia and across the Global South.
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