Indonesia Strengthens Role in Global AI Governance with WAICO

Indonesia is strengthening its role in artificial intelligence (AI) governance by becoming one of 29 founding countries of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) through the signing of the organisation’s declaration in Shanghai, China, on Thursday (16/7).

Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Angga Raka Prabowo stated that Indonesia’s participation in WAICO is a strategic momentum to reinforce national AI governance in line with international best practices, while opening up space for cross-country collaboration in developing an inclusive and responsible AI ecosystem.

According to Angga, Indonesia’s membership as a founding country of WAICO strengthens the nation’s position in the development of global AI governance and expands international collaboration to build a responsible AI ecosystem.

The establishment of WAICO was also attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres as a show of support for the initiative.

WAICO functions to strengthen international cooperation in capacity building, expand access to AI services and technology, encourage open, inclusive, and fair AI development, and enhance coordination of AI development strategies, ethics, and governance under the UN framework.

Indonesia’s participation in WAICO is expected to provide a significant boost to the government’s efforts to make the digital economy one of the engines of national economic growth, while accelerating transformation and investment in high-value-added sectors.

Deputy Minister Angga accompanied Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto, who chaired the Indonesian Government delegation.

As part of the series of events for WAICO’s establishment in Shanghai, Deputy Minister Angga is scheduled to attend an informal preparatory session on the establishment of WAICO and several other bilateral activities on Friday local time, accompanied by the Director of Artificial Intelligence and New Technology Ecosystem at the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs, Aju Widya Sari, and the Minister Counsellor of the Indonesian Embassy in Beijing.