The Selangor International Business Summit (SIBS)@ASEAN visit to Bandung on July 11 showed how Indonesian creative companies are applying artificial intelligence to heritage conservation, religious education, and museums, opening collaboration opportunities between Selangor and Indonesia. The delegation saw firsthand how AI tools originally built for gaming and animation now support public services and generate revenue for cultural institutions.
Curaweda Palagan Innotech, a company focused on integrated management systems and generative AI, has built a platform called Lorong Waktu Sejarah (Lotus) that digitises museum collections and heritage assets to create value for historical tourism.
AI preserves heritage and boosts museum revenue
Curaweda CEO Azhar Muhammad Fuad said the company partners with museums that face funding shortages. "This is important as funding is an issue for museums, as they do not have enough funds to run them. At the same time, it is also timely for historical artefacts to stop being displayed in glass boxes," he told delegates.
The company uses ethical AI, with every input and output verified by historians, archaeologists, and traditional rulers. All artefacts and characters come from primary references and are validated by responsible entities. After integrating AI into the visitor experience, monthly revenue at Keraton Kasepuhan Cirebon rose from between 50 million and 100 million rupiah to between 100 million and 200 million rupiah.
Beyond ticket sales, the platform provides AI-generated analytics on visitor demographics, movement patterns, spending behaviour, and food preferences. Museums use this data to design programmes and tourism packages that match interests, while creating business opportunities for local vendors. Azhar said about 30% of visitors came specifically because of Curaweda's AI integration. "Imagine the faces, features and characters of ancient figures being recreated through AI, allowing the younger generation to visualise and better understand what happened in the past," he said.
Virtual reality trains pilgrims for hajj
Metadigi is building a VR-based hajj simulation platform to help prospective pilgrims prepare for their journey to Makkah. A company representative said the programme should be completed by September. Current hajj training faces limitations: cramped spaces, unrealistic simulations, and face-to-face sessions that require large group gatherings in spacious venues.
Metadigi's solution combines customised VR software, motion treadmills, and guided rite simulations. The platform complements existing practical sessions, allowing pilgrims to familiarise themselves with every stage before departure. Indonesia's annual hajj quota of about 221,000 pilgrims and a waiting list of roughly 5.7 million people represent a sizeable market. The country also recorded around 1.6 million umrah pilgrims last year.
Game development academy eyes cross-border exchange
The delegation visited Agate Academy, the education arm of Indonesian game developer Agate. CEO Restya Winda Astari said the academy equips aspiring developers aged 16 and above with industry-standard tools and practical skills. She noted that Malaysia's game development ecosystem appears more advanced than Indonesia's, opening opportunities for knowledge exchange. "As far as I know, we do not have a programme with Malaysia yet, but soon we hope to have a programme in collaboration between the two countries," she said.
As Indonesia's creative sector expands AI use beyond gaming and animation into public services, professionals can explore resources such as AI for Creatives to build relevant skills.
Why this matters for creatives
The Bandung visits show that AI skills are increasingly valuable in sectors that creatives might not immediately consider - museum curation, religious training, and heritage tourism. For designers, developers, and content creators, understanding how to apply generative AI, VR, and data analytics to real-world problems can open new project opportunities. The Selangor-Indonesia collaboration talks suggest that cross-border creative projects may soon emerge, making it a practical time to strengthen AI literacy and explore partnerships in the region.
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