Indonesia Puts Creatives at the Center of AI Talks: $90B Industry, 26.5M Jobs
Indonesia just put a clear stake in the ground at the APEC meetings: keep humans in charge while AI scales the work. The country says its creative economy is worth about $90 billion and employs 26.5 million people.
With APEC leaders gathering in South Korea to address AI, Jakarta's message was simple: technology should empower people, not replace them. That frame matters for anyone who makes films, music, fashion, design, or content.
What Indonesia Said
At ministerial talks in Gyeongju, Indonesia called for human-centered innovation across APEC. The point: growth should be inclusive, culture-led, and talent-backed.
Indonesia's foreign minister emphasized keeping humans "in the driver's seat," steering tech toward prosperity, sustainability, and dignity. President Prabowo Subianto arrived in Busan for the summit as AI takes center stage.
Why This Matters if You're a Creative
- Budgets and policy across APEC may tilt toward human-led work augmented by AI, not pure automation.
- APEC covers about 36% of the global population and roughly 60% of global GDP-your potential audience and buyers sit here.
- The region leads on patents and R&D, so expect fast tool cycles and new standards. Being early gets you leverage.
What to Do Next (Practical Moves)
- Clarify your signature style. AI is a multiplier; it scales what you already do well. Tighten your visual, sonic, or narrative identity.
- Build an AI-assisted workflow for speed: concepting, mood boards, pre-viz, rough cuts, versioning, and distribution.
- Protect your rights. Tag assets, track usage, and set clear licensing for training data or derivative works.
- Create APEC-ready packages: bilingual captions, localized formats, short-form cuts, and platform-specific edits.
- Pitch cross-border collabs. Pair your craft with partners in production, post, or marketing in key APEC markets.
Opportunities Across APEC
- Film and video: Short formats for mobile-heavy markets; episodic concepts that travel.
- Music: Stems and remix-friendly packs; sync-ready catalogs; creator collabs.
- Design and fashion: Limited digital drops, capsule collections, and co-branded merch.
- Education and workshops: Teach your method plus AI workflow-companies need human process, not just tools.
Keep AI Human-First
The signal from the talks is clear: culture and talent should lead, with AI as an amplifier. That's the opening for creatives who can ship fast, keep quality high, and negotiate fair terms for data and IP.
APEC's scale means your work can travel if it's packaged for it. Expect more interest, more tools, and more scrutiny-so keep your process transparent and your rights tidy.
Quick Context
- APEC brings together major economies across the Pacific, including the US and China.
- The bloc accounts for about 36% of the global population and around 60% of global GDP.
- It is a leader in patents and R&D activity, raising the bar for creators using AI.
Useful links: APEC official site
Want structured ways to add AI to your creative workflow without losing your voice? Explore role-based picks here: AI courses by job
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