Diatceharahap

Making virtual friends

Don’t be afraid of artificial intelligence. This is the message of Diatce (Ache) G. Harahap, the 33-year-old founder of BJtech. His mission: “AI is for today and tomorrow. BJtech helps you stay connected with audiences through messaging apps, mobile apps, websites and other popular platforms.” Harahap has a Bachelor’s degree in International Business from Curtin University and a Master’s in Diplomatic Studies from the University of Westminster. He launched BJtech and another business, .Temu Coffee, in 2015. Among his inventions is a virtual friend called Bang Joni. This an AI-based conversational platform or chatbot.

“Powered with Natural Language Processing (NLP), BJtech provides a chatbot in Bahasa Indonesia that communicates in a human way and is simple to use,” Harahap promises on his website. “Bang Joni is a virtual friend who can help fulfil your daily needs, whenever and wherever. From buying post/pre-paid phone cards to plane/train/shuttle tickets, to finding out local weather and traffic information.

“These days, many people feel intimidated by artificial intelligence, fearing that it will take over their jobs. But we want to make an opportunity of it. I created Bang Joni for SMEs and corporate clients, but anyone can use it.”

Running his own business has not been easy for Harahap. “When we started, no one cared about chatbots, nor did they even know about them,” he says. “The challenge until today is educating people about our products and their benefits. Innovation is the key to survival and overcoming the challenges. We can’t stop innovating. That’s why we keep making products that are accessible for everyone.”