Jakarta, Indonesia – The Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia (Komdigi) and Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat or IOH) have officially launched Sahabat-AI, a homegrown app-based AI platform designed to make artificial intelligence more accessible and empower adoption across Indonesia.
Sahabat-AI is seen as a key step in Indonesia’s push toward a sovereign, inclusive, and locally rooted AI ecosystem. Beyond its technological capabilities, the platform is intended as a digital companion for Indonesians—one that understands local language, culture, and daily life.
The app is now available for both Android and iOS users, offering an integrated interface that supports multi-model and multi-modal functions, including text-to-image and text-to-video generation, smart search, coding assistance, and in-depth analysis. This range of features aims to broaden AI access for students, creators, professionals, and everyday users in a practical and user-friendly way.
Built with the ethos of being “the Most Indonesian at Heart”, Sahabat-AI leverages local languages and cultural context while combining world-class technology to deliver AI that resonates with the needs of people across the archipelago.
Developed through cross-sector collaboration within Indonesia’s national ecosystem, Sahabat-AI also reflects a collective effort to advance the country’s digital future. By centering on local needs and values, the platform is expected to support national priorities and serve as a tool for public empowerment.
Meutya Hafid, minister of communication and digital affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasised that Sahabat-AI reflects Indonesia’s strategic direction in building national AI capability and independence.
“Sahabat-AI is an important step in strengthening Indonesia’s digital sovereignty. More than that, it is a manifestation of our commitment to ensure that no one is left behind in the digital transformation. Technology must open access for everyone, everywhere, without barriers of language or culture. That is why we need AI that is truly Indonesian—built with our language, our cultural values, and our national interests,” the minister said.
“This platform is proof that Indonesia is capable of delivering technology that is relevant and beneficial to all segments of society. I encourage all layers of society to use Sahabat-AI and become part of the journey of domestic AI development,” she added.
To ensure responsible use, Sahabat-AI incorporates layered safeguards aligned with Indonesian social norms, cultural values, and ethical standards. These mechanisms aim to protect users, maintain a safe digital space, and foster a healthy national AI ecosystem, while continuing to encourage innovation.
Vikram Sinha, president director and chief executive officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, emphasised that the launch of Sahabat-AI reflects Indosat’s broader purpose of empowering Indonesia.
“We built Sahabat-AI not for Indosat, but for Indonesia. This platform is founded on our belief that technology must deliver benefits for everyone. By making Sahabat-AI open, accessible, and widely usable, we are laying the foundation for innovation that can be leveraged by individuals, startups, businesses, and public institutions across the country,” Vikram concluded.
