Antara News is reporting that Microsoft has committed to invest USD 1.7 billion in a program designed to enhance Indonesian citizens’ capacity to utilize artificial intelligence (AI), in collaboration with Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs.
Speaking at the launch event in Jakarta, which was followed online on Monday (2/12/24,) Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, said that she looks forward to seeing the program, which is called elevAlte and focused on inclusive AI education, reach people at all levels of society.
She emphasized the need for the government to boost the AI capacity of civil servants, ensuring that they understand how AI works to gain people’s support for the national digital transformation, says Antara News.
Hafid also underlined that elevAIte Indonesia is targeted to reach about one million participants within a year.
“Providing AI training for one million individuals is the key to ensuring Indonesia’s competitiveness in the global scene of the digital economy,” she said.
She expressed optimism that the cooperation between the Indonesian government and Microsoft would help Indonesia produce digitally capable talents who will shape a better future for the country, Antara News says.
Microsoft Indonesia president, Dharma Simorangkir, said that elevAIte aims to support the efforts of the government, industry players, educational institutions, and communities to help Indonesians seize the opportunities presented by AI.
“It is time for Indonesia to make the most of AI. All people in Indonesia deserve access to AI capabilities,” he added.
Meanwhile, Microsoft ASEAN president Andrea Della Mattea underscored that AI has the potential to add over USD 366 billion to Indonesia’s gross domestic product by 2030, according to Antara News, adding that to actualize the projection, Indonesia needs to pave the way for the emergence of more talents capable of mastering digital technologies like AI, she said.
For that reason, Microsoft has taken the initiative to interconnect ministries, agencies, organizations, and educational institutions to stimulate collaboration among them to develop Indonesians’ digital technology skills.
Source: Antara News
Stock image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
