Inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Communication and Digital (Menkomdigi) Meutya Hafid explained the important role of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in supporting the growth of the digital economy.
"The battle is not only in the field of defense equipment, but also in technology, especially digital. This reflects the urgency for every country, including Indonesia, in developing artificial intelligence and the digital economy," said Meutya on Thursday (30/1/2025).
She stated that the development of AI technology has changed the landscape of the global digital economy.
In her speech, she gives an example on how DeepSeek from China could cause a decline in the dominance of large US technology companies.
"Although the cost of AI development can be very high, DeepSeek is able to offer a more affordable and open model for developers, which has the potential to change the dominance of existing commercial AI technology," continued Meutya.
Additionally, the Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) of Indonesia's digital economy in 2024 is estimated to be 90 billion US dollars or around IDR 1,416 trillion, up 13 percent from around 80 billion US dollars in the previous year.
That figure, according to Meutya, makes Indonesia one of the countries with a large digital economy in Southeast Asia.
The Minister of Communication and Digital stated the importance of the presence of an inclusive, empowering, and trusted digital ecosystem in an effort to increase Indonesia's competitiveness at the global level.
The government is accelerating digital transformation, including improving digital infrastructure and preparing digital talent, to grow such a digital ecosystem.
The Minister of Communication and Digital emphasized that the success of digital economic development does not only depend on large capital, but also on efficient strategies and readiness to face technological changes.
"Open discussions between the government, technology companies, and the community are very important to form the right policies in facing the challenges of digitalization," said the Minister of Communication and Digital.
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