Indonesia is preparing to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into major government initiatives, including its $15 billion free meals plan. A draft presidential regulation seen by Reuters outlines how AI could boost the country's gross domestic product by 12% by 2030.
AI Roadmap for Economic Growth
The regulation sets a roadmap for ministries and regional governments to adopt AI between 2026 and 2029. It highlights “economic growth through development, facilitation and use of AI especially in the president’s priority programmes.” The draft is awaiting President Prabowo Subianto's signature.
According to Reuters, Indonesia aims to become more competitive in AI use regionally and globally, though progress has been slower compared with Singapore and Malaysia. Both countries have attracted billions from global tech firms to build cloud and AI infrastructure.
Tech Firms Contributing to Draft
Companies such as Meta Platforms, IBM and Microsoft contributed to the draft, according to Wahyudi Djafar, a tech analyst and member of the AI government task force. In 2024, Microsoft pledged $1.7 billion to expand cloud and AI services in Indonesia.
Despite these efforts, analysts warn Indonesia lacks infrastructure such as chips and skilled AI professionals. Derwin Suhartono, professor of artificial intelligence at Bina Nusantara University, said Indonesia “may stay as a consumer of products that foreign companies sell to.” He added that while the government has a roadmap, “it’s all rhetoric” at the execution level.
AI in Free Meals Programme
AI will play a central role in Prabowo's free meals initiative. The draft says it will be used to design region-specific menus, monitor kitchen hygiene, predict food demand, detect irregularities, and integrate health data for early emergency warnings.
The programme has faced criticism over transparency. Earlier this month, its head was fired and arrested after irregularities were found in kitchen setups. Safety standards have also been questioned, particularly after tens of thousands of children suffered food poisoning last year. The draft notes that AI-driven automation can “achieve remarkable efficiency while reducing operational costs.”
AI in Health Screening
Beyond meals, AI will also be used to analyse health checks in Indonesia's free screening and tuberculosis testing programmes. While the regulation builds on a white paper issued last year, it remains unclear when Prabowo will sign it. His office has not responded to requests for comment.
Indonesia's ambition to harness AI for economic growth and public welfare is significant, but experts caution that without strong infrastructure and skills development, the country risks falling behind its regional peers.
