Luhut: AI-Based Social Protection System to Launch in Mid-October
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - An artificial intelligence (AI) based digital social protection system is targeted to launch nationally during the October-November 2026 period. This was revealed directly by the Chairman of the National Economic Council (DEN), Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, during a press conference on Thursday (10/09/2026).
Luhut stated that President Prabowo Subianto has tasked him with leading the committee for the acceleration of social protection assistance digitalisation. The President, according to Luhut, has provided directives for the immediate release of this digital social protection system.
According to Luhut, the plan is to release the digital social protection system in the third week of October 2026. He expressed hope that by the time of the launch, 80% of the trials would be completed. The primary challenge, according to Luhut, lies in the technical aspects of data collection regarding decile grouping.
“We have designed it so that we can roll out in the third week of October. We hope that by that time, 80 percent of this is already finished. The problem, of course, is not that simple; there are many issues regarding the deciles,” he said on Thursday (10/09/2026).
“And I hope that when the President rolls it out in October, there will be almost no serious problems. Therefore, we have agreed to propose the National Social Protection Movement to the President,” he added.
With this new system, government social assistance (bansos) will be transferred directly by the government to recipients, rather than being provided in the form of goods, such as subsidies for specific products.
“Furthermore, the President has recently issued instructions that everyone must have a bank account. Because ultimately, we will no longer subsidise products, but the subsidy will be given directly to the people,” said Luhut.
Luhut noted that the programme for providing free bank accounts, specifically through Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) and Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI), will target Indonesia’s poorest citizens, numbering approximately 50 million people.
“That is the President’s directive. In doing so, it brings justice. Yes, it provides justice to our society. The 50 million poorest people will certainly be included,” Luhut explained.
Luhut added that the social assistance funds to be transferred will be adjusted to living needs, ranging from electricity bill payments and rice to fuel.
“We are still considering whether to provide coupons so that it cannot be used for online gambling. So, it might only be for paying electricity, rice, petrol, and so on. In the field, it will function as a market mechanism, making us more transparent,” he said.