Welcoming 2045, UT Rector hopes AI will not kill students' critical reasoning

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Universitas Terbuka (UT) Rector Prof Ali Muktiyanto has encouraged students to utilise artificial intelligence (AI) technology wisely as a tool to support critical thinking, in order to prepare themselves to become leaders in the era of Indonesia Emas 2045.

At the ‘Rektor Menyapa’ event at the Universitas Terbuka Convention Center (UTCC) in South Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, the UT Rector reminded that in a fast-paced digital era, students are the torchbearers of leadership who will determine the future direction of the nation when it celebrates a century of independence.

‘You are the main shareholders of the nation’s future. Exactly 19 years from now, in 2045, the Republic of Indonesia will turn 100 years old. We have proclaimed the grand vision of Indonesia Emas 2045, a nation that is advanced, prosperous, sovereign, and reckoned among the world’s major powers,’ said Ali.

To support this grand vision, UT has provided a state-of-the-art distance learning ecosystem, including academic mentoring driven by artificial intelligence technology.

Although technology has provided extraordinary convenience, the UT Rector reminded of the major challenge regarding academic integrity. He said that the ease of access to information through AI must not be misused to take manipulative shortcuts.

‘A high degree can never be achieved through cunning shortcuts. Amid the current ease of digital access and AI, the temptation to cheat is enormous,’ Ali asserted.

Ali asked students to make AI purely an instrument for self-development and broadening horizons, rather than handing over academic tasks entirely to machines that could potentially kill reasoning.

‘When you write academic papers, cite sources honestly. When you work on assignments and exams, trust in the ability of your own brain and feelings, and the sweat of your own efforts. Use AI as a tool to broaden your horizons, not as a substitute for your critical thinking process,’ he continued.

Ali stressed that technological progress and artificial intelligence must always be accompanied by a strong ethical and moral foundation from its users. According to him, a nation will not be destroyed merely because of a lack of innovation, but rather because of a crisis of integrity.

Therefore, the generation that will fill and lead Indonesia Emas 2045 must be those who are not only academically smart, but also able to adapt to technological disruption while firmly upholding the nation’s moral values.

‘Indonesia Emas 2045 will be led, mobilised, and won by people like you, lifelong explorers of knowledge, resilient independent learners who are adaptive to technology, globally minded, yet still deeply rooted in the values of divinity and the nation’s ethics,’ said Ali Muktiyanto.