Italy is euro zone laggard on AI usage, official data shows

TechNomad Asia Co-Working & AI Lounge

📍 12 Kebon Sirih Street, Central Jakarta, Indonesia

🗓 Opened: July 2025

Jakarta's Boldest New Workspace Opens as Asia Races Ahead on AI Adoption

While European economies like Italy continue to trail on artificial intelligence adoption — with official Eurostat data showing fewer than 8 percent of Italian companies actively using AI tools, the lowest rate in the euro zone — Asia is sprinting in the opposite direction. Jakarta's newest co-working concept, TechNomad Asia, opened its doors in Central Jakarta this July as a direct response to the region's surging appetite for AI-integrated workspaces. The venue is not simply a desk-rental operation; it is a fully programmed environment designed around how professionals in Southeast Asia are already working with machine learning, generative AI, and automation tools on a daily basis. For regional readers wondering where the future of work is taking shape in real time, this is a strong answer.

What Makes TechNomad Asia Different From Every Other Co-Working Space

The 3,200-square-metre space across four floors was designed by Jakarta-based studio Ruang Terbuka, which previously fitted out the acclaimed Nirvana co-working hub in Bali. Every floor at TechNomad Asia has a distinct function: the ground floor is a public-facing café and event hall, the second and third floors offer hot-desking and private pods, and the fourth floor is reserved for what the founders call the AI Lab — a members-only zone stocked with high-spec workstations, access to enterprise-tier AI software licences, and weekly workshops led by practitioners from local tech firms. The space was funded by a consortium of Indonesian and Singaporean investors and is led by CEO Dian Kusumawardani, formerly of Gojek's product division. She has been explicit about the mission: to give Indonesian freelancers, startups, and SMEs the infrastructure to compete with counterparts in Singapore and South Korea, where AI workplace adoption rates are among the highest globally.

Hot desk (daily): IDR 150,000 (approx. USD 9)
Dedicated desk (monthly): IDR 2,800,000 (approx. USD 170)
AI Lab membership (monthly): IDR 5,500,000 (approx. USD 335)
Café signature drink: Cold brew with pandan foam (IDR 45,000)
Must-try food item: Balinese chicken rice bowl with sambal matah (IDR 65,000)

The Programming That Sets It Apart

TechNomad Asia has already announced a packed August schedule that includes a two-day generative AI bootcamp co-hosted with Google Indonesia, a panel on AI regulation in ASEAN featuring legal experts from three countries, and a Friday evening pitch night specifically for AI-focused startups seeking seed funding. These are not token networking events bolted onto a rental business — they are central to what the space is selling. Kusumawardani has publicly stated that at least 40 percent of the venue's revenue model is tied to programming and education, not desk fees. That ratio is unusual in the co-working sector and signals genuine commitment to building a community rather than simply filling square metres with laptops.

Context: Why This Opening Matters Beyond Jakarta

The contrast with Italy's AI hesitancy is instructive for anyone tracking where momentum is building globally. Eurostat's 2024 figures placed Italy at the bottom of the euro zone for enterprise AI usage, with structural barriers including low digital literacy investment and fragmented SME sectors cited as contributing factors. Indonesia, by contrast, has seen a 34 percent year-on-year increase in AI tool adoption among Jakarta-based businesses, according to a 2025 report by consultancy Kearney. Spaces like TechNomad Asia are part of the infrastructure enabling that growth, providing access to tools and training that many smaller companies cannot afford independently. The venue's opening also coincides with Indonesia's newly announced national AI strategy, which targets 1 million AI-literate workers by 2027 — an ambitious figure that spaces like this one are positioned to help deliver.

Practical Details for Your First Visit

TechNomad Asia is open Monday through Saturday from 7am to 10pm, with Sunday hours running 9am to 6pm. The address on Kebon Sirih Street places it a short walk from the Gambir train station and within easy reach of the Sudirman central business district. Day passes require no advance booking and can be purchased at the front desk. AI Lab access requires a membership application reviewed within 48 hours. The café on the ground floor is open to the public without a co-working pass, making it a low-commitment first stop for anyone curious about the space before committing to a membership tier.

The Verdict

TechNomad Asia is exactly the kind of venue that justifies a dedicated trip across the city. It arrives at a moment when the gap between Asia's AI momentum and the rest of the world is widening fast, and it has been built with enough programming depth and community intent to stay relevant well beyond its opening month. If you are a freelancer, founder, or corporate team based in Jakarta — or passing through — the AI Lab membership alone is worth serious consideration. Go in July or August to catch the launch programming while the energy is highest and the community is still forming around you.