Head of BRIN emphasises AI must not compromise academic integrity

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Head of the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Arif Satria, has asserted that artificial intelligence (AI) must not be utilised to compromise academic integrity. This statement was made by Arif Satria in response to the rising scandals involving data falsification, as well as AI-based research analysis and interpretation, in various international forums recently.

“AI technology should be an accelerator for innovation, not a tool to falsify data and generative experiments for the sake of chasing instant publication metrics. The global scandals currently being debated serve as a crucial momentum for all of us to reaffirm the importance of clear and comprehensive regulations regarding the boundaries and ethics of AI use in research activities,” said Arif in a statement released in Jakarta on Wednesday.

Consequently, comprehensive improvements are required, not only by tightening oversight in global partnerships but also by reaffirming the implementation of universal quality assurance Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for all types of research, including local domestic research.

He emphasised that the oversight instruments under BRIN allow for no exceptions. The strict SOPs designed to guarantee research quality are not only rigidly applied to international-scale research collaborations but are also absolutely applicable to all domestic research activities, including local-level research.

“Multi-layered supervision, ranging from the fulfilment of ethical clearance and independent track record audits by the Research Ethics Committee to the obligation of raw data transparency, is applied universally across all sectors,” said Arif.

Through these mitigation measures, Arif stated that the agency is encouraging the national research ecosystem to adopt the principles of responsible open science.

BRIN also ensured that the heaviest sanctions await serious ethical violators, ranging from the total suspension of research grants and the revocation of expert status to being blacklisted from the national research ecosystem, and even formal legal implications if it is proven that state finances have been harmed.

“The highest honour of a true scientist remains rooted in the honesty of the process and a real impact on civilisation, not on the quantity of pseudo-publications resulting from machine engineering,” concluded Arif Satria.