On November 15, 2024, Indonesia unveiled the first phase of Sahabat-AI, an open-source Large Language Model (LLM) ecosystem specifically designed for the Indonesian language and various regional dialects.
Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, stated, "This initiative marks a significant milestone in strengthening Indonesia's digital sovereignty, preserving linguistic diversity and cultural heritage, and opening new opportunities for socio-economic growth and innovation that will benefit society at large."
Sinha emphasized that Sahabat-AI is not just a technological achievement but a vision for Indonesia's future, where digital sovereignty and inclusivity go hand in hand. "By creating an AI model that understands local context and is relevant to Indonesian culture, we aim to empower all citizens to harness the potential of technology," he explained.
He noted that Sahabat-AI is designed for interaction by Indonesians from all sectors, including private, public, and academia, in their native languages. "Sahabat-AI will not only promote digital literacy in Indonesia but also accelerate growth in various critical sectors," he added.
Patrick Walujo, CEO of GoTo, shared his vision for introducing Sahabat-AI. "Our vision is to bring the power of AI to all Indonesians. By using the Indonesian language and regional dialects, Sahabat-AI addresses the contextual and cultural relevance gaps often overlooked by global LLMs," he said.
Walujo believes that Sahabat-AI will enhance GoTo's communication with customers and support the Indonesian government in fostering innovation to engage with the public comprehensively, creating real change for millions across the nation. He emphasized the importance of collaboration from various stakeholders in advancing this open-source LLM ecosystem.