Indonesia launches Sahabat-AI app to drive local AI
Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Indonesia's Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs have launched the Sahabat-AI mobile app, making the country's locally developed large language model available on Android and iOS.
The organisations described the app as a widely accessible digital companion for Indonesian users, including students, creators, businesses and public institutions. The launch also adds a consumer-facing interface to a model presented as part of a broader push to build domestic AI capability.
Sahabat-AI is designed around local languages and Indonesian cultural context. Users access multiple AI functions through a single app interface.
App Features
The app supports text-based chat and content generation. It also includes tools for other media formats, including images and video, the project partners said.
Other functions include smart search, coding assistance and analytical responses. The app uses a "multi-model and multi-modal" approach, allowing it to switch between different model types and input formats rather than relying on a single interaction style.
The ministry framed the launch as part of Indonesia's digital sovereignty agenda, emphasising language and cultural accessibility.
"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. 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," said Meutya Hafid, Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia.
Safety Controls
Sahabat-AI includes layered guardrails that developers say align with Indonesian social norms, cultural values and ethical standards. The approach links the product to government efforts to limit harmful content and maintain what the ministry calls a healthy digital environment.
The partners said the controls are intended to keep interactions safe and protect users, and positioned them as part of responsible AI development as adoption grows.
Indosat positioned the app as a national platform that can be used beyond the telecom operator's customer base, and said the launch aligns with its broader digital services strategy.
"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," said Vikram Sinha, President Director and Chief Executive Officer of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison.
Infrastructure Build
Indosat outlined the computing infrastructure behind Sahabat-AI, which uses distributed AI systems with NVIDIA L40s and H100 graphics processing units. Orchestration links a centralised "AI factory" with a distributed environment.
The company said the architecture is designed to improve response times, reduce latency and increase cost efficiency for AI computing, while supporting a consistent real-time user experience as usage scales.
Indosat also plans to evolve the infrastructure into an "AI Grid", connecting its data centres more directly to what it describes as a national AI ecosystem. Under the approach, AI services would be positioned closer to users and industries across the country.
Public Sector Use
The app has also been positioned as a platform for organisations. Indosat said an agent-based approach would allow businesses and public sector institutions to integrate services into the Sahabat-AI ecosystem, delivered through a single AI interface.
Indosat said the model could be applied across sectors such as education, healthcare, creative industries and public services. It also linked the concept to national priorities on data governance and digital sovereignty, signalling a policy dimension to how services are integrated and operated.
Sahabat-AI's development has been tied to earlier milestones. The model was introduced publicly at Indonesia AI Day 2024 alongside NVIDIA Chief Executive Jensen Huang. Indosat said that by June 2025 it had reached up to 70 billion parameters and expanded support for multiple regional languages. The latest step adds a mobile app layer and broader media formats in a single product.
The partners said the app is open to all Indonesians and available on both major mobile platforms. Indosat said the next stage includes a shift towards an AI Grid built across its data centre footprint.