Indosat launches Sahabat-AI app in push for locally rooted, inclusive AI ecosystem

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Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison has officially launched Sahabat-AI, an app-based artificial intelligence platform developed in collaboration with the ministry of communication and digital affairs, positioning it as a cornerstone of the country’s drive towards a sovereign and inclusive AI ecosystem.

Sahabat-AI is designed as a digital companion built “for Indonesia”, with a strong emphasis on local languages, culture and national priorities. Available on Android and iOS, the platform integrates multi-model and multi-modal capabilities – allowing users to move seamlessly from text to images, text to video, smart search, coding assistance and in-depth analysis within a single interface.

The launch signals a shift from experimentation to scaled deployment. Initially introduced at Indonesia AI Day 2024 alongside NVIDIA founder and CEO Jensen Huang, Sahabat-AI has since evolved from a large language model initiative into a consumer-facing and enterprise-ready application. By June 2025, the model had reached up to 70 billion parameters and expanded support for multiple regional languages. Its 2026 app iteration now extends those capabilities to a broader public and institutional user base.

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Meutya Hafid, Indonesia’s minister of communication and digital affairs, framed the platform as part of a broader national strategy. “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, that is built with our language, our cultural values, and our national interests,” she 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,” Hafid added.

Beyond its consumer-facing functions, Sahabat-AI has been developed as a collaborative platform for businesses and public sector institutions. Through an agent-based architecture, organisations can integrate their services into the ecosystem, enabling users to access a range of digital services through a unified AI interface. Target sectors include education, healthcare, creative industries and public services – all aligned with Indonesia’s data governance and digital sovereignty agenda.

In parallel with expansion, Sahabat-AI incorporates layered guardrails aligned with Indonesia’s social norms, cultural values and ethical standards. The framework supports government efforts to curb harmful content and sustain a healthy national digital space, while encouraging responsible innovation.

The infrastructure underpinning the platform relies on distributed AI architecture powered by NVIDIA L40s and H100 GPUs. Orchestrated from a centralised AI factory into a distributed AI environment, the system is designed to reduce latency, enhance response times and improve cost efficiency. Indosat has outlined plans to evolve this framework into an “AI Grid”, transforming its data centres into the backbone of a national AI ecosystem.

For Indosat, the launch reinforces its broader positioning as an AI-driven telecommunications company. The operator recently reported FY2025 revenue of IDR 56.5 trillion (US$3.4 billion) and double-digit net profit growth, with ARPU rising 6.4% to IDR 44,000 (US$2.62), attributed in part to AI-powered hyper-personalisation and enhanced customer experience initiatives.

Vikram Sinha, president director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said the platform reflects the company’s larger purpose. “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,” he concluded.

The rollout also complements Indosat’s existing AI initiatives, including its AI-powered anti-spam and anti-scam systems, as the company deepens integration between network infrastructure and intelligent services.

As Indonesia accelerates its digital transformation agenda, Sahabat-AI represents more than a new consumer app. It is positioned as a strategic layer in the country’s ambition to build domestic AI capabilities – created by Indonesia, for Indonesia – while ensuring that adoption remains inclusive, culturally grounded and aligned with national priorities.

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