Amid the rapid global adoption of artificial intelligence (AI), Indonesia continues to reinforce its digital transformation by investing in human capital.
With Indonesia requiring over 600,000 digital talents each year to achieve its “Golden Indonesia 2045” vision, strengthening tech-based skills is no longer optional. Digital inclusion and AI literacy are now prerequisites to ensure that every individual—whether in cities or rural areas—can play a role in the future economy.
To address these needs, Microsoft, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and Digital (Komdigi), has launched elevAIte Indonesia—a national AI training initiative aimed at empowering 1 million Indonesians with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the era of AI. The program is inclusive for all: students, teachers, civil servants, MSME owners, and general users with non-technical backgrounds.
In just eight months since its launch, the program has surpassed its goal of one million participants, reaching 1.2 million, reflecting a growing enthusiasm for learning throughout the country.
“Surpassing one million participants has indeed become a major milestone. What is even more inspiring, however, is how this passion for learning has grown into a broader movement, led directly by learners and the communities they form. elevAIte Indonesia is not just about numbers or rapidness, it is also ensuring that everyone, wherever they are, truly benefit from digital advancement. None of this would be possible without the close collaboration with our partners and all those committed to expanding inclusive learning opportunities across Indonesia,” said Arief Suseno, AI National Skills Director, Microsoft.
In addition to equipping 1.2 million digital talents, the elevAIte Indonesia program has also provided training for around 695,000 talents, resulting in 403,000 certified individuals. These include 168,013 individuals and participants from various sectors: education (762,209), community (252,598), government (115,078), and industry (53,344).
A National-scale Initiative with Local Approach
The elevAIte program was conceived with a national vision, yet implemented through local approaches. To ensure training is accessible and inclusive, the program collaborates with 22 ecosystem partners from diverse sectors—including NGOs, educational institutions, local governments, and industry players.
Through this approach, the training is offered through Indonesian-language online modules, in-person community sessions, hackathons, promptathons, and flexible learning channels. The content is tailored to be relevant for all levels of digital literacy, from beginners to advanced participants.
Through these collaborations, elevAIte has grown beyond a mere training program—it has become a grassroots movement that expands access and opportunity across Indonesia.
Moreover, to reach the younger generation, elevAIte has introduced a fun and contextual approach through Minecraft Education. The program is now being used in several elementary and secondary schools to introduce coding and AI in a visual, exploratory, and collaborative way.
From left to right: Students from Kinderfield Primary Duren Sawit, SMP Labschool Jakarta, and MAN 9 Jakarta are enthusiastically creating and learning with Minecraft Education.
At Kinderfield Primary Duren Sawit, for example, elementary students learn programming logic by building objects in the Minecraft world—demonstrating high enthusiasm and steadily improving skills.
At SMP Labschool Jakarta, teachers from different class subjects collaborate to integrate Minecraft into Indonesian Language, Mathematics, and Informatics lessons—with a focus on ethics, creativity, and problem-solving.
Meanwhile, at MAN 9 Jakarta, students have achieved recognition in the ASEAN-level Minecraft Sustainable Challenge. They created a sustainable virtual world featuring technologies such as solar panels, low-emission zones, and recycling systems.
Beyond the Numbers: The Real Stories of Learners
Behind the milestone of one million digital talents, there are real-life stories of individuals driving Indonesia’s digital transformation, best known as the true changemakers of the nation.
From left to right: Ahmad Zikrillah, Diana Putri, and Mardhani Riasetiawan, three changemakers driving innovation for the country through AI.
Ahmad Zikrillah, a 50-year-old science teacher who integrates AI into his teaching. Through elevAIte Indonesia program, he acquired new skills like DevOps and website creation to machine learning and Microsoft Copilot. One of his innovations is ‘Kertas Digital’: a lightweight HTML file containing lessons, images, and videos that students can access and complete anytime, anywhere even offline on their mobile devices.
Meanwhile, Diana Putri, a homemaker from Sintang, West Kalimantan, leverages AI to support her in parenting and in exploring business opportunities. Copilot assists her in filtering and summarizing parenting information and comes up with creative activity ideas for her children. She also uses AI to explore business opportunities, from brainstorming business ideas and understanding marketing strategies to gaining insights on building a business from the ground up.
AI skills can also be applied to support climate resilience and sustainability, as demonstrated by the G-Connect project initiated by a team from Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). The project has helped establish a disaster mitigation system in the area, developed in partnership with the local community.
Many more inspiring stories unfold across regions in Indonesia:
- Dede Ulfah, a Computer Science graduate from Tasikmalaya, was the only woman in her class to pursue the AI track. Through the elevAIte Indonesia program, she honed her practical skills in Azure and Copilot. For her undergraduate thesis, she developed an AI-based application to classify traditional Indonesian foods and is now exploring AI solutions to simplify formal document preparation. The program has given her both confidence and a clear pathway into the tech industry.
- Izza Auliyai Rabby – Drawing on her experience from the elevAIte Indonesia program, Izza founded a “Pesantren Teknologi” in Kuningan, West Java, where about 70 students actively engage in hands-on learning of coding, AI, and cloud technologies. He also mentors them through bootcamps and hackathons, proving that innovation hubs can grow from any community.
- Dewi Sartika Salam – Working at Center for Education Quality Assurance (BBPMP) South Sulawesi, Dewi leverages Copilot to analyze educational data and craft more precise policy recommendations. She also actively introduces AI to fellow educators at the elementary and secondary levels, as well as to homemaker communities, supporting them in developing critical thinking skills. For Dewi, AI serves as a tool to expand thinking capacity and create pathways toward more innovative and inclusive public services.
- Nura Uma Annisa – As an Informatics teacher at SD Nasima Semarang, Nura has long been active in supporting digital education through the MIEE community. Through the elevAIte Indonesia program, she deepened her technical skills in AI—from natural language processing to image classification—and earned her AI-900 certification. She is now mentoring other teachers in developing innovative teaching materials using Copilot and Microsoft Designer, while integrating Minecraft Education to create exploratory and AR-based learning experiences. Her initiatives empower students to become creators; producing AI comics, storyboards, and coding projects.
- Ester Rosdiana Sinaga – A horticulture researcher from North Sumatra and a master’s student at UC Davis, Ester leverages AI to accelerate the analysis of tropical plant genetics and genomics. Coming from a farming family and with experience in waste management research, she now studies food and herbal plants grown by the Indonesian diaspora in the United States, contributing to national efforts in food conservation and diversification. In her research, Ester uses AI as a co-pilot for troubleshooting code, visualizing data, and streamlining her daily workflow.
- Anis Damayanti – As the principal of a special needs school in Indonesia, Anis has successfully integrated AI across the curriculum and learning programs. At SLB IDAYU, students gain hands-on experience with AI through coding platforms, including using generative AI to create stories and express their ideas. Students with visual impairments can now navigate their surroundings with an AI-powered “smart cane” developed by Anis. Teachers have observed increased focus and engagement among students, both academically and behaviorally in the classroom.
- Tasya – A 13-year-old student at Saab Shares Learning Center, Tasya initially struggled to find answers to the science questions and biology projects that interested her. Through the elevAIte program, she learned how AI works and how it can help her analyze sunlight patterns and develop solutions suited to her planting conditions. For Tasya, AI opens up new ways to learn, explore ideas, and satisfy her curiosity with greater confidence. Her story reflects the tremendous potential of AI to empower children in underprivileged communities.
These stories show that true impact is often reflected in how individuals use new skills to make a difference in their communities.
Redefining Learning Methods in the Age of AI
The way we work—and learn—is undergoing a major shift. Microsoft’s Work Trend Index 2025 shows that 68% of workers feel they lack sufficient AI skills, while 75% of business leaders consider AI a strategic priority. This highlights a readiness gap, as well as a significant opportunity.
The elevAIte program meets this need by going beyond simply introducing new tools, it also fosters a mindset that anyone can be a creator of solutions, rather than just a user. With a practical curriculum, AI certification pathways, and advanced programs such as hackathons and promptathons, participants are supported from the learning phase all the way through to developing impactful solutions.
The journey is far from over. Microsoft will continue to strengthen the elevAIte ecosystem—with broader local content and a focus on responsible AI principles: safe, ethical, and inclusive.
In the end, Indonesia’s digital future isn’t just about technology—it’s about who shapes it. elevAIte Indonesia makes the answer clear: everyone.