IdeaFest 2026 highlights the human role amid AI development
Jakarta (ANTARA) - IdeaFest 2026 takes up the theme “Re:Humanize”, highlighting the importance of the human role in determining the direction of artificial intelligence (AI) use, as the technology increasingly influences the world of work, the creative industries, and everyday life.
The fifteenth IdeaFest will be held on 4–6 September 2026 at the Jakarta International Convention Center (JICC) in Senayan, South Jakarta, featuring more than 500 speakers across 160 sessions.
IdeaFest Co-Chair Ben Soebiakto said in a statement on Monday that the theme “Re:Humanize” was chosen to encourage the public to reassess the position of humans as AI technology develops at an ever faster pace.
According to him, technology can extend human capability, but creativity, empathy, and the ability to set goals remain aspects that cannot be separated from the human role.
“Through ‘Re:Humanize’, we want to invite the public to look again at what makes humans remain important amid the development of AI, and how technology can expand human potential without losing creativity, empathy, and meaning,” said Ben.
The development of the theme was also based on an evaluation of IdeaFest 2025, which showed audience demand for deeper discussion of the creative industries and the relationship between humans and AI.
Content Lead & BrainTrust of IdeaFest, Firdza Radiany, said this year’s programme curation asks how humans can remain at the centre amid technological development.
Across the 160 IdeaTalks sessions, discussions will cover AI, creativity, business, entertainment, culture, technology, communities, and changes in human working patterns.
From a technological standpoint, AI is considered capable of accelerating work and opening up opportunities for innovation. However, humans still play a role in determining the direction and impact of its use.
This has also become a concern in the creative industries. Experience, emotion, intuition, perspective, and an understanding of context are still seen as necessary to produce works with identity and meaning.
Beyond the discussions, IdeaFest will present a number of collaborative activities bringing together communities, creative practitioners, and visitors through a creative market and interactive activities.