AI Should Be an Academic Partner, Not a Threat, Says Hasanuddin University Official

A senior official at Hasanuddin University (Unhas) has stated that artificial intelligence (AI) should not be positioned as a threat, particularly to the world of education. Prof Muhammad Niswar, Head of the university’s Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Institute, said in Makassar on Tuesday that AI must instead be understood as a technology capable of expanding human capacity when used appropriately, responsibly, and with academic ethics. “Many say AI will make students think less. I see the opposite. We must learn to coexist with AI,” he remarked at an oath-taking ceremony for officials in South Sulawesi. He added that the goal is not to foster dependency, but to build the ability to utilise AI for a higher quality and more critical learning process. One key focus is the development of an AI Powered Assessment and Proctoring system, designed to support lecturers in creating evaluation tools and to assist in administering exams more objectively, efficiently, and accountably. Unhas is also developing an AI Powered Manuscript Review and Editing Tools platform to aid the academic community in improving the quality of scientific publications. The technology is intended to help with editing manuscripts, reviewing writing structures, and providing recommendations before submission to reputable national or international journals. Prof Niswar further explained that digital transformation is being directed towards strengthening Data Processing and Analytics systems, enabling more integrated institutional data management. Through AI-based analysis, academic, research, human resources, and administrative data can be processed into strategic information to support evidence-based decision-making. He stressed that the success of digital transformation is not solely measured by technological sophistication, but by the tangible benefits it delivers to the academic community. “AI should not just be a technological trend. It must become an academic partner that helps lecturers teach more effectively, helps students learn more deeply, strengthens research quality, and supports smarter university governance,” he concluded.