In a landmark move aimed at bolstering its position in the global artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, Indonesia has granted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman the country’s inaugural golden visa. This initiative, announced by officials on Tuesday, seeks to attract wealthy foreign investors to Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Silmy Karim, the director-general of immigration, confirmed that Altman has been awarded a 10-year visa, recognizing his potential contributions to the advancement of AI in Indonesia. Altman, renowned as the co-founder of the ChatGPT bot sensation, expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “Once the holders of Golden Visa arrive in Indonesia, they no longer need to apply for a temporary stay permit at the immigration office. We are rolling out the red carpet in return for the resources they provide to Indonesia.”
The US-based tech entrepreneur’s special visa is also attributed to his international reputation as the head of a leading AI research and development company. With this golden visa, Altman, aged 38, gains the privilege of bypassing immigration queues at Indonesia’s airports, facilitating seamless entry and exit.
Indonesia introduced golden visas targeting investors willing to invest in the country’s growth. Investors committing $2.5 million receive a five-year stay, while those investing twice that amount enjoy a 10-year stay. This strategic approach aligns with Indonesia’s ambition to foster an AI ecosystem and community in response to the global AI boom.
Although Altman has yet to disclose his investment plans in Indonesia, his recent visit to Jakarta to deliver a speech on the future of AI underscores his interest in the country’s burgeoning technical environment, as reported by Mint. This golden visa may pave the way for partnerships that enhance Indonesia’s standing in the AI and technology sectors.
By promoting investments in AI infrastructure, OpenAI, under Altman’s leadership, has garnered global attention. ChatGPT, one of the company’s transformative AI tools, has revolutionized the approach to artificial intelligence by utilizing large data centers to simulate human intelligence. Consequently, numerous worldwide investments have been made to build and expand infrastructures supporting AI. Indonesia’s golden visa for Altman signifies a significant step toward establishing the nation as a formidable player in the AI arena.
