Jakarta, INTI – Behind one of the world’s most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) technologies stands an Indonesian who plays a direct role. Adhiguna Kuncoro, a scientist from Indonesia, is the only researcher from the country to join DeepMind, Google’s research division in London, where he contributes to the development of Gemini, a cutting-edge AI model that has gained global attention.
From a Boarding Room to the Global AI Hub
Adhiguna’s journey began in a modest boarding room in Bandung, where he wrote his thesis on AI at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). At that time, AI still felt like science fiction. However, his determination led him to continue his studies at Oxford University and Carnegie Mellon University, two of the world’s most prestigious institutions.
A major opportunity came when he was accepted into a doctoral program at Oxford with a full scholarship. Through his professor who had previously worked at DeepMind Adhiguna gained the chance to conduct research while directly engaging in world-class AI projects. Since 2017, he has officially been part of DeepMind’s core research team in London.
The Role Behind Gemini
At DeepMind, Adhiguna focuses on Natural Language Processing (NLP), the technology that enables AI to understand and respond to human language. Through NLP, Gemini is expected to provide practical benefits for society, from education to healthcare.
He illustrated how AI could help address the shortage of teachers in remote areas. With adaptive learning systems, students can study according to their specific needs. “If a student has mastered multiplication but struggles with division, AI can provide the right exercises,” he explained.
Beyond education, Adhiguna also emphasized the role of AI in healthcare, such as supporting medical personnel with more accurate information in hard-to-reach areas.
Challenges and Hopes
Despite working at a global research hub, Adhiguna has never forgotten Indonesia. He has actively encouraged collaboration between diaspora scientists and local educational institutions. Among his initiatives are founding the AI Summer School in Jakarta in 2019 and contributing to the creation of an Indonesian language dataset that was later released as open source.
However, significant challenges remain. One of the biggest is the limited availability of Indonesian-language data compared to English. According to him, the quality of AI strongly depends on the amount of local-language data used in training the models.
A Message for the Younger Generation
Marc’Aurelio Ranzato, Director of Research at DeepMind, described Adhiguna as meticulous, collaborative, and uniquely skilled in natural language processing. He highlighted the importance of diaspora scientists in helping adapt global technologies to local needs.
Adhiguna himself urged Indonesia’s younger generation to dream big and not fear failure. “We are no less intelligent than people from other countries. The difference is, they dare to dream bigger and are more resilient. Don’t be afraid to fall, because from failure we can rise again,” he said.
Conclusion
Adhiguna Kuncoro’s story proves that Indonesian talent can compete on the international stage. Through his contribution to the development of Gemini, he not only brings pride to the nation but also paves the way for collaborations that could bring real benefits of AI to Indonesian society, especially in education and healthcare.
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