Indonesia Urges Workers to Build AI Skills as Jobs Evolve
Indonesia urges workers, including civil servants, to build AI skills as generative AI reshapes jobs, decision-making and the digital economy.
Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs Nezar Patria has urged Indonesian workers to acquire AI skills in response to the evolving job landscape driven by digital advancements. Patria emphasized the urgency of this matter, given the rapid progress of generative AI, which has significantly altered the way work, decision-making, and public service are conducted.
According to a report by the International Labour Organization (ILO), about one in four workers in the ASEAN region are at risk of job displacement due to generative AI. Patria highlighted that the impacts of AI adoption extend beyond employment, potentially influencing state revenue and fiscal structures.
The Indonesian government, according to Patria, cannot afford to wait for AI's effects before taking action. Instead, the government must proactively strengthen its capacity to understand, manage, and utilize AI technology from the start. This proactive approach is crucial to ensure the AI transformation is managed effectively, preventing broader repercussions on the workforce and economy.
Patria stressed the importance of upskilling and reskilling civil servants, particularly those involved in labor, taxation, digital economy, and digital governance policies. These civil servants must understand AI's workings, its impacts, and potential risks. Upskilling and retraining are no longer optional, he stressed.
Patria expressed optimism that enhancing government competency could cultivate long-term readiness, encompassing AI literacy, policy analysis skills, and data-driven decision-making. With this capacity, civil servants are expected to act as catalysts for digital government transformation and contribute to building a resilient and inclusive national workforce for the AI era.
Furthermore, Patria stressed that government readiness to implement AI should be bolstered by robust governance and cross-sector coordination. The government must serve as a knowledgeable regulator rather than a reactive one.
Written by urgent.news from Tempo.co English's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.