Prabowo to Deploy AI in Free Nutritious Meal Programme

The administration of Prabowo Subianto is reportedly set to utilise Artificial Intelligence (AI) for several key programmes, including the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) initiative.

As reported by Reuters, citing a draft presidential regulation, the adoption of AI for ministries and local governments is planned for the 2026-2029 period. The objective is to drive economic growth through the development, facilitation, and implementation of AI, specifically within the President’s priority programmes.

It is estimated that the adoption of AI could increase Indonesia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 12%, or approximately US$366 billion, by 2030. The draft also states that the goal of using this technology is to enhance Indonesia’s competitiveness in AI usage at both regional and global levels.

Several major global corporations, including Meta, IBM, and Microsoft, are reportedly involved in the drafting of Indonesia’s national AI regulations. In 2024, Microsoft was noted to have invested US$1.7 billion over several years to expand its cloud and AI services in Indonesia.

Reuters reports that AI will be utilised for the MBG programme in various capacities. This includes designing region-specific menus, monitoring kitchen hygiene, predicting food demand, detecting irregularities, and integrating health data for early warning systems in emergencies.

The draft further notes that AI-based automation will enable organisations to achieve significant efficiencies and reduce operational costs. Additionally, AI technology will be utilised for health analysis within national free screening programmes and tuberculosis testing.

The draft regulation is currently awaiting signature by President Prabowo. It remains unknown exactly when the regulation will be officially signed.