Indonesia faces AI productivity gap and Agentic AI risks

Indonesia is facing a significant gap in artificial intelligence utilization. While 92% of Indonesian workers are familiar with AI technology, only 15% use it productively for work tasks, with most using it primarily for web browsing. To address this and support an 8% economic growth target by 2029, the government aims to fulfill a need for over 9 million digital talents through collaboration with the private sector and civil society.

The rise of Agentic AI—systems capable of planning, making decisions, and executing tasks autonomously—presents both opportunities and risks. Experts note that Agentic AI can enhance efficiency for industries and SMEs by automating routine workflows like research and document processing.

However, the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has highlighted emerging risks, particularly in the financial sector. Unlike standard AI that provides recommendations, Agentic AI can execute transactions independently. Officials emphasize the urgent need for regulatory frameworks to manage decision-making authority, human oversight, liability for losses, and data security in environments where AI systems interact autonomously.