Prabowo Warns of AI Risks and Nuclear Potential
President Prabowo Subianto has warned that the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) brings not only great opportunities for human progress but also risks that must be anticipated. Consequently, he has encouraged the academic community, particularly professors and senior lecturers, to delve deeper into the development of this technology. This was stated by Prabowo while closing the 2026 National Seminar on Science, Technology, and Industry on Sunday (28/6).
Prabowo noted that almost all nations are currently racing to develop AI to avoid falling behind in global technological competition. However, he remarked that the creators of AI themselves have issued warnings regarding the potential negative impacts of this technology on human life.
“Currently, with Artificial Intelligence, almost all countries are pursuing AI. They do not want to be left behind. But the inventors of AI themselves have given warnings that AI could become problematic for humanity,” said Prabowo.
He then touched upon the development of AI Agents, which are AI systems designed to work for individuals, groups, corporations, organisations, or even nations. Based on information he received, the number of AI Agents is continuously increasing, and it is even claimed that they have developed their own communication spaces using coded languages incomprehensible to humans.
Prabowo also described how AI’s capabilities are increasingly surpassing humans in various fields. According to him, machines have been able to defeat world chess champions and produce extraordinary works.
“Word has it that there are now 5 million AI Agents. Perhaps those 5 million existed three weeks ago. And they reportedly already have their own chatrooms. These five million are speaking to each other in their own coded language,” he said.
Nevertheless, Prabowo emphasised that technological progress is unavoidable. He assessed that the challenge lies in ensuring that technology is utilised for the benefit of humanity, much like the use of nuclear energy, which can be both a blessing and a threat.
In his view, nuclear technology can provide cheap and relatively clean energy and be utilised in the fields of health and agriculture. On the other hand, the same technology could destroy civilisation if misused.
Therefore, Prabowo hopes that the academic community will play a role in studying and directing technological developments to ensure they provide the greatest possible benefit to society.
“So, my brothers and sisters, it is the professors and senior lecturers who must study this deeply,” said Prabowo.