China Joins Indonesia as Global Community Resists Total AI Replacement
Jakarta — Artificial intelligence technology presents a double-edged sword. On one hand, AI innovation offers considerable convenience for human activities and is anticipated to be an effective tool for economic growth. Conversely, AI introduces significant risks, including job losses and redundancies as tasks are automated, the proliferation of disinformation generated by AI, and growing environmental concerns from AI development.
The Indonesian Government has unveiled an ‘AI Roadmap’ to mitigate various risks from AI implementation whilst accelerating Indonesia’s competitiveness in global AI competition.
Regulation of AI use has become a global trend. The European Union has enacted the ‘EU AI Act’, set to take full effect by late 2026, regarded as the world’s first comprehensive AI regulation for detecting AI risks, holding AI providers accountable for risk mitigation, and imposing ethically appropriate restrictions.
Other countries including the United Kingdom and South Korea are actively preparing AI-related regulations. Recently, China has also sought to protect its citizens when using AI by drafting new regulations to strengthen safety and ethics in technology deployment.
These rules target consumer-oriented AI products and services featuring human-like personality and involving emotional user interaction, according to Reuters. The regulations address products and services with human-like reasoning, communication styles, and emotional interaction using tools such as text, images, audio, and video.
The regulations will employ an approach centring on AI companies’ obligations in providing services to the public. This includes providing warnings on excessive use. Service providers must also establish various systems related to these requirements, including algorithm reviews, data security, and personal information protection.
User addiction is also a regulatory priority. Providers must identify conditions, assess user emotions, and measure service dependency levels. They must provide intervention measures when users show signs of addiction.
The approach establishes content and behaviour boundaries, preventing services from producing content that endangers national security, spreads rumours, or promotes violence or pornography.
Indonesia’s AI Roadmap
Indonesia has been developing its AI Roadmap and AI Ethics framework for some time, with the draft expected to be signed by President Prabowo Subianto in 2026.
“We may convey this here because it is what industry players have been awaiting — that the government is complete, already 90% finished with the AI Roadmap and AI ethics,” explained Communications and Digital Minister Meutya Hafid during the Declaration of Indonesia’s Digital Direction: Connected, Growing, Protected event in Jakarta on Wednesday (10 December 2025).
The draft is awaiting approval. Meutya explained that State Secretary Minister Prasteyo Hadi is ensuring the AI Roadmap enters Prabowo’s priority list for signature as soon as possible.
Meutya stated her ministry will not regulate AI development in individual sectors. Thus, ministries and institutions can create their own AI regulations once the Presidential Regulation is launched.
“We only create the overarching framework, and the rest, including domestic trade, are welcome to establish guidelines or AI regulations in your respective sectors. With our understanding that those who best know regulatory needs regarding Artificial Intelligence in their respective sectors are the leaders of the relevant sector institutions,” said Meutya.
No detailed information is yet available regarding the specific contents of the regulations and AI Roadmap.
Found in October, Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Nezar Patria stated the regulations would balance innovation and protection regarding AI technology, ensuring equilibrium between advancement and safeguards.
In the AI Roadmap, Nezar said it would target several matters including national strategic programmes, such as which sectors will contribute to the technology.
“AI can contribute across various sectors — healthcare, education, financial services, transportation, and numerous other sectors,” said Nezar.