Jakarta, June 28, 2026 – The Europe Today: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has cautioned that rapid technological advances, including nuclear technology and artificial intelligence (AI), offer significant benefits but also pose serious risks that require careful study and oversight.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the Indonesian National Convention of Science, Technology, and Industry 2026 in Jakarta on Sunday, Prabowo said technology should not automatically be viewed as beneficial to humanity.
“Technology is not always positive for humanity,” he said, noting that while nuclear technology has the potential to greatly improve human welfare, it also possesses destructive capabilities that could threaten human civilisation.
The president also highlighted the rapid development of artificial intelligence, saying countries around the world are racing to advance AI technologies to remain competitive. However, he noted that even some of the technology’s creators have warned of its potential long-term challenges.
Prabowo referred to the emergence of AI agents—autonomous systems capable of performing tasks for individuals, organisations, corporations and even governments—and said reports indicate that millions of such agents are already operating.
Citing available reports, he said there are currently around five million AI agents that are believed to interact with one another through dedicated chat platforms using coded forms of communication. He did not provide evidence for the figure or elaborate on the source of the reports.
The Indonesian leader called on professors, researchers and other experts to closely examine the development of AI and its implications for humanity, stressing the importance of understanding both the opportunities and potential risks associated with emerging technologies.
