Jokowi Warns of Major AI Revolution Within 5-15 Years
Former Indonesian President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) has predicted that a major revolution related to artificial intelligence (AI) will occur within the next 5-15 years, triggering enormous changes in human life.
According to Jokowi, AI will increasingly permeate all aspects of human existence. “AI everywhere, in all places, everything is AI,” he stated when met at his residence on Friday (27/2).
Widodo has urged all nations, including Indonesia, to prepare adequately for this transformation. He emphasised that preparation must encompass not only supporting infrastructure for AI but also human resources development and regulatory frameworks to accommodate AI’s expanding role across all sectors.
“We must be fully prepared, because there will be a shift from what was once a normal economy into a digital economy, moving into an AI economy or intelligence economy,” he said.
Beyond AI deployment, Widodo also highlighted the critical importance of data sovereignty and AI sovereignty. He stressed that data sovereignty is essential and necessary for all nations, particularly developing countries.
“Data sovereignty is absolute and highly necessary for all nations, especially developing countries,” he stated.
Widodo called on developing nations to pursue digital infrastructure development to support data sovereignty, including satellites, data centres, fibre optic networks, and telecommunications towers, all of which will provide crucial support when the AI era fully materialises.
However, Widodo acknowledged that achieving AI sovereignty will be extremely challenging. He noted that resources for building AI infrastructure are currently controlled by a handful of global players. Even major developed nations like the United States face difficulties in achieving complete independence, given that semiconductor chips remain imported and international talent continues to be sourced from countries such as India.
“Even large nations find it difficult. What kind of sovereignty can America achieve? Semiconductor chips are still imported from other countries. International talent is still sourced largely from India. What more can be expected of developing nations?” he asked.
Widodo’s remarks echo sentiments he previously expressed at an economic forum in India. Similarly, Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, Widodo’s son, has frequently raised the AI issue during various official visits, including his call for Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) to become pioneers in AI and blockchain technology.