VP Gibran: AI Advancement Must Not Erode National Culture
Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka has stressed that technological progress, including artificial intelligence (AI) and social media, must be utilised to strengthen cultural preservation, not to erode national identity. The government, Gibran said, is committed to ensuring that digital transformation goes hand in hand with efforts to safeguard cultural values as the foundation of national character.
The statement was made by Gibran whilst receiving the management board of Bela Budaya Nusantara at the Randu Mas Arts and Culture Tourism Park in East Lampung Regency, Lampung, on Wednesday (15/7).
According to Gibran, technological development is an inevitability that cannot be avoided. Therefore, society must be able to adapt without abandoning the cultural roots that form the nation’s identity.
“Indeed, it cannot be denied, Sir, now is the era of social media, the era of AI, all children are holding mobile phones. But technology and culture must go hand in hand, Sir. Technological progress and disruption are impossible to fight. But this must proceed in harmony,” Gibran said.
He assessed that digital technology actually opens up greater opportunities to introduce Indonesia’s cultural wealth to the global community. Social media, he said, can be an effective means of promoting various cultural heritages whilst fostering pride among the younger generation in the national culture. “With technological advances, especially social media, we are actually helped, Sir, to introduce our culture more widely,” he stated.
Gibran also emphasised that the positive use of technology is in line with the implementation of President Prabowo Subianto’s Asta Cita, which places national character building and cultural preservation as important parts of the national development agenda.
On the same occasion, the Chairman of the Central Executive Board of Bela Budaya Nusantara, Mulyono, reminded of the importance of maintaining a balance between technological advancement and the preservation of customs. He expressed concern that the younger generation would drift further away from their culture if there were no real efforts to uphold the nation’s noble values. “We are also afraid that if we do not defend our culture going forward, this generation will only be skilled at managing technology but not at preserving customs,” Mulyono said.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Governor of Lampung Jihan Nurlela, East Lampung Regent Ela Siti Nuryamah, Acting Secretary to the Vice President Al Muktabar, and Special Staff to the Vice President Achmad Adhitya.