For over 16 years, Indonesian fisherman Dedi Arianto relied on intuition to find fish in the Java Sea, but his catch was always uncertain. That changed two years ago when officials from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) introduced him to the NN Marlin mobile app, designed to improve fishing efficiency using AI technology.
The NN Marlin app helps fishermen locate the most promising fishing grounds by analyzing sea surface temperature and chlorophyll levels. It uses machine learning to process satellite and remote sensing data, pinpointing fish schools within a specific area. “Now, catching fish is much more certain and efficient,” said Dedi. “We are guaranteed to get fish every day, and fuel use is also more efficient.”
Fisheries are crucial to Indonesia’s economy, contributing nearly 3% of the GDP and supporting millions of people. The NN Marlin app is one of many AI-based tools developed by BRIN, a government agency established by President Joko Widodo in 2019. BRIN spearheads Indonesia’s AI policy, focusing on education, healthcare, food security, and more.
Unlike wealthier countries where tech startups often lead AI development, BRIN plays a central role in Indonesia. The agency collaborates with local and international tech firms to create AI applications for climate change, forest fire prediction, sustainable mining, and disaster management. Although Indonesia’s AI adoption lags behind countries like Malaysia and Singapore, BRIN is working to close this gap.
AI could add nearly $1 trillion to Southeast Asia’s GDP by 2030, with Indonesia’s economy potentially growing by 12%, according to a Kearney study. The NN Marlin app costs fishermen 1.2 million rupiah ($73) for a tablet and internet subscription. It provides updates on fishing zones up to six times a day and aids in detecting illegal fishing and monitoring foreign vessels.
In addition to supporting fishermen, BRIN’s AI technology aids law enforcement. For example, the North Sumatra police use remote sensing to locate illegal marijuana fields by analyzing light reflected off the plants’ leaves.
Major tech companies are also investing in Indonesia’s AI future. Nvidia and PT Indosat Ooredo Hutchison are investing $200 million in an AI center, Microsoft has committed $1.7 billion for AI and cloud infrastructure, and Google Cloud is developing AI solutions for healthcare.
However, there are concerns about data security, especially following a major ransomware attack on government agencies in June. Ensuring data protection is crucial as AI adoption grows.
Despite these concerns, for fishermen like Dedi, the app’s reliability is a game-changer. While it doesn’t specify fish types, it ensures they always come home with a good catch. “What is certain with this app is that we are confident that we never go home without a decent catch,” he said.
Source: rest of world
