ChatGPT creator Sam Altman granted Indonesia’s first-ever golden visa

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, received Indonesia’s first golden visa, according to officials, who announced on Monday in a bid to entice wealthy foreign investors to Southeast Asia’s largest economy.

In acknowledgment of Altman’s potential contributions to the development of artificial intelligence (AI) in Indonesia, the director-general of immigration, Silmy Karim, stated in a statement on Monday that Altman had been awarded a 10-year visa.

“Golden Visa holders no longer need to apply for a temporary stay permit at the immigration office once they arrive in Indonesia,” Karim said.

The 38-year-old would be able to travel faster in and out of Indonesia with the golden visa, according to the statement, by avoiding immigration lineups at Indonesian airports.

Golden visas, which provide investors a five-year stay after investing $2.5 million and a ten-year stay after investing twice that amount, have been adopted by Indonesia.

According to officials, the country aims to establish a community and ecosystem there as the AI industry expands internationally.

Although Altman has not yet made his investment plans in Indonesia public, it is clear that he is intrigued by the country’s technological landscape given that he recently traveled to Jakarta to give a discussion on the future of AI, according to Mint.

The visa could pave the way for collaborations that enhance Indonesia’s standing in the AI and technology sectors.

Under Altman’s leadership, OpenAI has drawn attention on a global scale by promoting investments in AI infrastructure.