The Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs, Meutya Hafid, Delivers a Public Lecture at Udayana University, Encourages Acceleration of Digital Transformation

Jimbaran, August 28, 2025 – Udayana University (Unud) held a public lecture with the Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Mrs. Meutya Hafid, B.Eng., M.I.P., at the Widya Sabha Auditorium in Jimbaran. The event was attended by more than 1,500 new students from undergraduate (S1), master's (S2), and specialist medical education programs, as well as Unud’s leadership and academic community.

This public lecture carried the theme “Digital Transformation and the Role of Artificial Intelligence for an Advanced Indonesia,” a topic highly relevant to today’s challenges where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming a driving force for change in education, industry, and national development.

In his opening remarks, the Rector of Udayana University, Prof. Ir. I Ketut Sudarsana, S.T., Ph.D., affirmed Unud’s commitment to being at the forefront of supporting national digital transformation through the planned establishment of the Udayana University AI Centre as a hub for research, development, and innovation in the field of artificial intelligence. The AI Centre is expected to become one of the key drivers in advancing digital technology and AI in Indonesia, aligning with the nation’s needs in facing the Golden Indonesia 2045 vision.

“The establishment of this AI Centre aligns with the vision for accelerating digital transformation towards a sovereign and dignified nation in AI innovation, as initiated by the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs. Therefore, we seek full support from the Ministry so that Unud’s AI Centre can become part of the national AI development ecosystem,” said Prof. Sudarsana.

The AI Centre at Udayana University is designed with a strategic vision, including: developing leading AI research in tourism, culture, health, agriculture, and the environment; becoming a government and industry partner in implementing AI solutions; providing an AI training ecosystem for students, the general public, and MSMEs; and preserving local wisdom and Balinese culture through ethical and responsible use of AI.

According to its development roadmap, the AI Centre will focus on strengthening institutional foundations and research between 2025–2026, expanding national and international research collaboration during 2027–2028, and becoming a national center of excellence, particularly in Eastern Indonesia, by 2029–2030.

The Rector also expressed appreciation for the Ministry’s strategic programs, particularly the Artificial Intelligence Talent Factory, which he deemed comprehensive and vital in preparing the younger generation to face the fast-paced digital era.

“Udayana University is ready to collaborate and play an active role in supporting these flagship programs,” he emphasized.

This public lecture is expected to inspire and energize Udayana University students to continue innovating, be globally competitive, and remain rooted in national cultural values as they face the era of digital transformation.

In her lecture, Minister Meutya Hafid highlighted that the topic of digital transformation is extremely important, as public interest in discussing Artificial Intelligence has been continuous since her appointment. She emphasized that AI is something new that has the potential to reshape the future world a world different from the one we know today and that the only way forward is to collaborate: the government, universities, youth, and even the private sector must unite to face this new revolution, not only for Indonesia but for the world.

“This is an excellent and crucial initiative because we must acknowledge and accept that digital disruption is happening, and Artificial Intelligence will once again revolutionize the world. The rise of AI has created new rules in the digital landscape revolutionizing decision-making, transforming value creation, redefining competition, and even reshaping consumer behavior across various sectors,” she stated.

Looking at AI’s potential in Indonesia and the ASEAN region, Minister Hafid stressed the importance of confidence, particularly when facing new technologies. She pointed out that Indonesia, with a population of 280 million, has the largest population in ASEAN, and over 80% internet penetration, which means around 229 million Indonesians are connected online a significant asset. The projected value of Indonesia’s digital economy is also remarkable, reaching USD 109 billion by 2025, and expected to grow beyond USD 366 billion by 2030.

The Minister also revealed that the National AI Roadmap is currently in the public consultation stage. In addition to the roadmap, the Ministry has submitted to the State Secretariat a Presidential Regulation (Perpres) or Government Regulation (PP) related to AI Ethics and Security, which will prioritize specific areas, with ethics and security being the first to be addressed.

Udayana University, she added, could play an important role as a research center, contribute to testing and enriching the roadmap, produce innovators with expertise that supports AI development, and also act as a watchdog for the implementation of the roadmap.