AI in governance

Artificial intelligence (AI) is gradually transforming from a mere topic of discussion among technology developers into a part of the national development agenda. If a few years ago AI was more often discussed in the context of the creative industry or technology companies, now the discussion has shifted to the policy space. The government is beginning to see AI as an instrument to improve governance and public services. This change in direction is evident from the increasing frequency with which AI appears in the speeches of state officials to the drafting of national regulations. In fact, the government has prepared two draft Presidential Regulations that form the foundation for AI development in Indonesia, namely the Presidential Regulation on the AI Roadmap and the Presidential Regulation on AI Ethics. Both mark a new chapter where AI changes its meaning from merely a technology to a part of state policy. Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has been one of the most active figures in voicing this agenda. On various occasions throughout 2025 to mid-2026, from school visits to university forums, he encouraged the public not to view AI solely as a tool for creating images, videos, or animations. According to him, the space for AI utilisation is much broader, including government administration, tax payments, public services, and disaster mitigation. The message conveyed by Gibran does not only speak about accelerating technology adoption. He also repeatedly reminded that AI must be used responsibly, while critical thinking skills, creativity, and decision-making remain in human hands. This view shows that the government is trying to position AI as a tool that strengthens human capabilities, not replaces them. This perspective is important because, in practice, the success of AI implementation in the public sector is not solely determined by technological sophistication. The experience of many countries shows that no matter how advanced the technology, it still requires good governance for its benefits to be truly felt by the community. This awareness is beginning to be reflected in the government’s steps to draft regulations. The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs has completed two draft Presidential Regulations that are now awaiting the President’s signature. The first Presidential Regulation contains a national AI development roadmap for the 2026-2029 period, while the second regulates the ethics of AI utilisation. The two regulations have different but complementary functions. The roadmap serves as a guide for the direction of the national AI ecosystem development, while the ethics regulation ensures that AI utilisation remains within the corridors of transparency, accountability, system security, public protection, and human control.