AI Should Be an Academic Partner, Not a Threat, Says Hasanuddin University Official
The Head of the Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence Institute at Hasanuddin University (Unhas), Professor Muhammad Niswar, believes that artificial intelligence (AI) should not be positioned as a threat, particularly within the world of education.
Speaking in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Tuesday, Professor Niswar stated that AI should instead be understood as a technology capable of expanding human capacity when utilised appropriately, responsibly, and based on academic ethics.
“Many say that AI will make students think less. I see the exact opposite. We must learn to live alongside AI,” he said.
“What needs to be built is not dependency, but the ability to utilise AI to produce a higher quality and more critical learning process,” added Professor Niswar during an inauguration ceremony for officials in South Sulawesi.
One of the primary focuses is the development of AI-Powered Assessment and Proctoring, a system designed to support lecturers in developing learning evaluation instruments, analysing question quality, and assisting in exam supervision more objectively, efficiently, and accountably.
Furthermore, Unhas will develop AI-Powered Manuscript Review and Editing Tools to support the improvement of scientific publication quality for the academic community. This technology is designed to assist in the manuscript editing process, check scientific writing structures, and provide recommendations for manuscript refinement before publication in reputable national and international journals.
Digital transformation is also being directed towards strengthening Data Processing and Analytics systems, which will allow for more integrated institutional data management. Through AI-based analysis, various academic data, research, human resources, and administrative services can be processed into strategic information to support rapid, accurate, and evidence-based decision-making.
This infrastructure is expected to provide a digital system that is secure, reliable, and ready to accommodate future technological development needs.
According to Professor Niswar, the success of digital transformation is not measured solely by the sophistication of the technology possessed, but by the extent to which that technology can provide real benefits to the academic community. Therefore, all AI development at Unhas will be directed towards the principles of utility, inclusivity, and supporting the enhancement of higher education quality.
“AI must not merely be a technological trend. AI must become an academic partner that helps lecturers teach more effectively, helps students learn more deeply, strengthens research quality, and supports increasingly intelligent university governance. That is where digital transformation finds its meaning,” concluded Professor Niswar.