AI startup AIonOS, a joint venture between CP Gurnani’s Assago Group and Indigo parent Interglobe Enterprises, has announced a strategic partnership with Indonesian telecommunications provider Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Chinese LLM-maker Deepseek. The collaboration aims to establish a Centre of Excellence in Indonesia, leveraging Deepseek’s open-source AI models to develop industry-specific AI solutions.
At an event in New Delhi, CP Gurnani confirmed that AIonOS and Indosat have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore AI-driven applications across sectors such as travel, agriculture, and the knowledge economy. He emphasized that the initiative is being undertaken at Indosat’s invitation and will focus exclusively on Indonesia.
Gurnani highlighted the key advantages of this partnership, particularly the deployment of advanced AI technology with reduced computational power and energy requirements. He noted that such an approach significantly lowers the overall cost of AI implementation, making it more accessible for businesses and governments alike. “Ultimately, there is a cost of AI, and that becomes much, much cheaper,” he remarked.
Deepseek, which provides high-performance open-source AI models, is being positioned as a cost-effective alternative to proprietary models developed by firms like OpenAI. Some of Deepseek’s models are reported to rival OpenAI’s advanced offerings in performance while being built at a fraction of the cost.
The collaboration is taking shape at a time when the US and China are competing to dominate the global AI landscape. However, Vikram Sinha, CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, pointed out that Indonesia remains a neutral player in this geopolitical contest. “We want to make sure we use the best technology which benefits all,” he said, reinforcing the importance of affordability and accessibility in AI deployment for countries with significant rural populations, such as Indonesia and India.
Sinha further emphasized the significance of sovereign AI, highlighting Indosat’s recent efforts in launching a localized language model named “Sahabat-AI.” The initiative aligns with Indonesia’s broader vision of strengthening its AI capabilities and promoting digital transformation across key economic sectors.
In India, AIonOS is actively collaborating with global AI leaders like Meta, Google, and OpenAI. Gurnani clarified that while AIonOS is not engaged in foundational AI model development, it is focused on creating “superagentic AI” tailored for industry-specific applications.
The MoU signed between AIonOS and Indosat marks a significant milestone in AI cooperation between India and Indonesia. The companies issued a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to harnessing AI for driving economic growth, innovation, and sociocultural transformation. Through this partnership, Indosat’s deep-rooted local expertise will complement AIonOS’s technological advancements, fostering an ecosystem that enables the widespread adoption of AI solutions.
The initiative aims to equip Indonesians with AI skills, accelerate growth in high-impact sectors like tourism and sustainable agriculture, and enhance human capital development. As Indonesia continues its digital transformation journey, the AIonOS-Indosat partnership is poised to play a critical role in shaping the country’s AI landscape.