Endang Aminudin Aziz, Sole Indonesian in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024
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6 September 2024 20:05 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Endang Aminudin Aziz was named one of the 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024 by Time Magazine. The New York-based magazine spotlighted Endang’s role in saving more than 700 languages in Indonesia, with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs).
Endang started to develop the language revitalization project in 2021. The head of Language Development and Cultivation at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology said the program was part of the Merdeka Belajar (Freedom to Learn) concept.
“It is incorporated in the Merdeka Belajar program episode 17,” he told Tempo on Friday, September 6, 2024.
Endang has spoken in UNESCOS’ international forum several times during his time innovating with artificial intelligence. He’s been to France, Thailand, and China to speak about local language revitalization. According to Endang, these countries also experience a local language crisis.
Aside from AI-based language revitalization, he’s also making surveys about local language digital mapping. A manual survey was conducted in 2019, involving 30 language bureaus in various regions.
“Local language mapping is conducted every 10 years by the language agency. An update with AI is needed,” said Endang.
The results of the survey are entered into the database and become the initial material for local language resource documentation. "There are data from recordings, books, and local language-based newspapers,” he said.
Tested for School Children
In the digital version, Endang went on, the survey results will become big data. Local language mapping will also be packaged with AI-based machine learning "We’re also considering local language testing through AI support,” he said.
The local language data is being tested in simple forms for school children. For example, the students are asked to compose in Javanese, and an AI system will grade their work.
"Focus on school children first, since the vocabulary is not too complex," said Endang Aminudin Aziz.
IRSYAN HASYIM
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