Microsoft Corp, one of the world’s leading technology companies, is making a significant investment in Indonesia’s digital talent development. With a commitment of US$1.7 billion over the next four years, Microsoft aims to bolster the country’s digital infrastructure and promote innovation in artificial intelligence (AI).
Antony Cook, Corporate Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Microsoft Corporation, expressed admiration for Indonesia’s adoption and innovation levels in AI. He emphasized Indonesia’s potential as a hub for talented developers, signaling a promising future for the country’s tech sector.
“Investing in Indonesia aligns with the characteristics of a region that we consider worthy of investment,” said Cook in an exclusive interview with Bisnis.
Microsoft’s investment in Indonesia will focus on cloud computing infrastructure and AI technologies. Cook highlighted several positive indicators in Indonesia, including the success of the AI Odyssey program and the rapid growth of developers in the GitHub ecosystem.
“For example, Indonesia is currently the third-largest community in Asia on GitHub. By 2026, Indonesia has the potential to be one of the top 5 largest GitHub developer ecosystems in the world,” Cook explained.
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GitHub, a platform acquired by Microsoft in 2018, serves as a project management site for developers, facilitating collaboration and code sharing.
Cook also cited examples of innovative AI adoption in Indonesia, such as Yayasan Mitra Netra’s use of AI to translate Arabic into Braille, and eFishery’s utilization of AI to improve efficiency in the aquaculture sector.
Microsoft believes that AI utilization in Indonesia could have a tremendous impact on the economy, with potential equivalent to 12% of the country’s GDP by 2030. The Generative AI segment, in particular, could boost productivity by US$243.5 billion.
Accelerating digital talent development is crucial for AI advancement in Indonesia, according to Cook. Microsoft’s investment aims to strengthen the country’s digital infrastructure and support regulatory frameworks conducive to innovation.
“Microsoft’s investment will drive Indonesia to optimize its two main assets: strengthening the creative use of AI across various sectors and accelerating the creation of AI multiplier effects to boost productivity and the economy as a whole,” Cook concluded.
The Potential of Indonesia’s digital talent has garnered attention from Microsoft, leading to an investment of up to US$1.7 billion. This substantial investment reflects Microsoft’s confidence in Indonesia’s digital talent and its future growth.
