Agentic AI: The Key to Targeted Public Policy

RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Agentic Artificial Intelligence (Agentic AI) technology needs to be utilized as an instrument of national strategy to drive more precise, adaptive, and data-driven public policies in the digital age. This affirmation was made by the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Digital Communications, Ismail, at the Agentic AI Governance event in Jakarta on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.

He believes that deploying Agentic AI is crucial for the government to understand the digital lifestyles of the public and formulate policies that are truly targeted. "Today, people's lifestyles are recorded through search engines, chat applications, social media, and even marketplaces. However, the government is not in a position to fully interpret these data sources. As a result, public policies, including those related to tourism and transportation, are often off-target," said Ismail.

Ismail emphasized that the main issue here is not data ownership, but rather accessibility and the state's ability to read patterns in aggregate for the public good, without violating privacy and fundamental laws. In addition to data, the Secretary-General of the Ministry of Communication and Information also highlighted the importance of Agentic AI in strengthening digital sovereignty, opening up national economic opportunities, and creating value-added jobs for Indonesian digital talent.

"Many AI solutions require adaptation to the Indonesian context. If we only adopt technology as it is, we will always be at the very bottom layer. Agentic AI provides an opportunity for the nation's children to participate in developing solutions relevant to national needs," he said.

In its implementation, Ismail emphasized the need for a clear ethical framework and boundaries from the outset, so that the use of Agentic AI can be risk-free and carried out responsibly. "This isn't just about technology, but about building systems and culture. The boundaries must be clear: when it enters the legal domain, when it's about ethics, and how the risks of imitation are real and implementable," he said.

To support this, Ismail emphasized the role of the Ministry of Communication and Informatics as the lead architect of national AI infrastructure development, considering that the scale of investment and complexity cannot be left entirely to the private sector separately. "Indonesia is a large country with significant needs. AI infrastructure must be clearly directed and orchestrated to avoid falling behind and truly support national interests," he emphasized.

Ismail also invited all stakeholders, including government, private sector, academia, and young talent, to synergize in building a sovereign, inclusive, and nationally-oriented Agentic AI ecosystem in Indonesia. "It has to start now or never. We want Agentic AI to develop in Indonesia with a clear direction and real benefits for society," he concluded.