ID grants ChatGPT founder Sam Altman golden visa as it aims to improve AI utilisation locally

Chief executive officer and founder of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has become the first foreigner to obtain a golden visa in Indonesia after it was launched earlier this month. Altman received a golden visa with a 10-year stay as the country looks to develop the artificial intelligence landscape locally.

This comes shortly after Altman visited the country in June to share more knowledge about artificial intelligence. With this golden visa, Altman is expected to contribute to the development of artificial intelligence utilisation in Indonesia, said the government in a statement. 

As a golden visa holder, Altman will be able to enjoy screening lanes and priority services at airports, longer periods of stay, and ease of exit and entry in and out of Indonesia.

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The golden visa scheme was launched early this month in a bid to attract individual and corporate investors and boost its national economy.

Director general of immigration, Silmy Karim, said that the golden visa will grant a residence permit for an extended period of five to 10 years to a foreign investor. The five-year visa requires individual investors to set up a company worth US$2.5 million, while for the 10-year visa, a company worth US$5 million is required.

Karim further explained that the golden visa was an order from President Joko Widodo when he carried out his duties as director general of immigration, which is why he prioritised the program to be finalised within six months. The initial announcement for a golden visa came in June this year, after a cabinet meeting with President Joko Widodo and tourism and creative economy minister Sandiaga Uno.

Following the meeting, Sandiaga told reporters present that the golden visa could significantly impact Indonesia's efforts to attract more foreign talent as well as investments which could then create more job opportunities locally.

He added at the time that he hoped that this would make Indonesia the "epicentre" of economic growth and that it would encourage sustainable development particularly as it is the "largest archipelagic country" with the ability to absorb large carbon emissions.

Altman's golden visa also comes months after he took the stand in May to speak directly to US lawmakers about the risks artificial intelligence (AI) poses and why heavier regulations are needed amidst ethical, legal and national security concerns.

Speaking to the Senate Judiciary subcommittee, Altman said that AI systems have become incredibly powerful but that as it advances, more people are getting anxious about the way it could change the way we live. 

He noted that his team at OpenAI as well as himself were concerned about this too. To mitigate the risks, Altman proposed forming a US-based or global agency or committee that would be able to license these AI systems and ensure compliance with safety standards as well as have the authority to revoke licenses. 

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