Google.org Injects IDR 106 Billion Of New Funds To Strengthen AI Ecosystems In ASEAN

Google.org collaboration with the ASEAN Foundation (photo: Google)

JAKARTA - Google.org announced its two new investments to the ASEAN Foundation and the Edu Farmers International Foundation to help people in Southeast Asia acquire skills in AI.

Through this grant, Google.org disbursed USD 5 million (IDR 76.3 billion) for the ASEAN Foundation to increase AI literacy for more than 5.5 million young people, educators, and parents in the region.

As for the Edu Farmers International Foundation, Google.org disbursed funds amounting to US $ 2 million or Rp. 30.5 billion to increase food security for 200,000 farmers and families in Indonesia.

"Today's announcement reinforces our continued support for organizations that have social impacts, to ensure that AI transformations are inclusive and can be enjoyed by everyone," said Ruth Porat, President & Chief Investment Officer for Alphabet and Google, at the ASEAN Secretariat in Jakarta on Wednesday, October 2.

Later, Ruth added, these efforts are expected to pave the way for AI's use and innovation in various industries in Southeast Asia.

With this investment, the ASEAN Foundation hopes that by 2026 they can train millions of educators, parents, and young people through a special AI program designed by the ASEAN Foundation.

"AI literacy will be crucial in the next decade and we believe that this Google.org grant will help the ASEAN Foundation support millions of people in ASEAN to learn new things and help their careers," Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director for the ASEAN Foundation.

On the other hand, the Edu Farmers International Foundation, which has received its first Google.org grant in 2022, has coached 4,400 farmers and more than 1,000 young people through the Farming for the Country program.

With this latest grant, it is hoped that it can help them in empowering 200,000 small farmers and underprivileged families.

Through AI-powered chatbots, we can offer personalized guidance to small farmers, maximizing yields based on real-time local data, such as weather, soil conditions, and pest threats, said Amri Ilma, Chief Operating Officer, Edu Farmers International Foundation.