What Do Indonesians Really Need from Language Technology? A Nationwide Survey
This work addresses the needs of native speakers in Indonesia for more targeted and ethical language technology development, though it is incremental as it provides survey-based insights rather than a new method.
The authors tackled the problem of unclear needs for language technology in Indonesia's 700+ local languages by conducting a nationwide survey, finding that addressing language barriers through machine translation and information retrieval is the top priority, with enthusiasm tempered by concerns over privacy and bias.
There is an emerging effort to develop NLP for Indonesias 700+ local languages, but progress remains costly due to the need for direct engagement with native speakers. However, it is unclear what these language communities truly need from language technology. To address this, we conduct a nationwide survey to assess the actual needs of native speakers in Indonesia. Our findings indicate that addressing language barriers, particularly through machine translation and information retrieval, is the most critical priority. Although there is strong enthusiasm for advancements in language technology, concerns around privacy, bias, and the use of public data for AI training highlight the need for greater transparency and clear communication to support broader AI adoption.