Source: Untar Public Relations – VC
Untar through its Institute for Learning and Academic Innovation held an academic event themed “Humanities and AI: Preserving Cultural Identity and Human Values Amid Technological Disruption Toward an Inclusive and Equitable Society” on Thursday (20/11/2025) via Zoom. The event aimed to strengthen students’ understanding of the importance of preserving cultural and humanitarian values amid the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technology.
The event began with opening remarks from Dr. Ir. Steven Darmawan, S.T., M.T., Head of the Institute for Learning and Academic Innovation. The seminar was then officially opened by Assoc. Prof. Sri Tiatri, S.Psi., M.Si., Ph.D., Psikolog, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Student Affairs, and Cooperation.
Dr. Steven explained that the humanities festival and seminar are part of the learning activities in humanities courses regularly conducted every semester. The event is expected to serve as a platform for students to understand issues related to culture, humanity, and the challenges arising from technological advancement.
In his remarks, Dr. Steven emphasized, “Untar encourages the use of AI in education, but it must be implemented with proper procedures and ethics so that it can be utilized appropriately.” He highlighted the importance of balancing technological progress with humanitarian values as the foundation of knowledge development.
The first session featured Dedek Prayudi, B.A., M.Sc., Researcher and Spokesperson for the Presidential Communication Office of the Republic of Indonesia 2025, who presented material on Simulacra. The presentation focused on the theory of simulacra, which views reality as often shaped by socially and digitally constructed representations. He elaborated on the three stages of simulacra, the relationship between reality and hyperreality, and their impact on modern society’s behavior.
The second session was delivered by lawyer and 2024 Regent of the Mentawai Islands, Dr. Rinto Wardana, S.H., M.H., CRA., AIIArb, through a topic discussing Humans as Constitutive Beings with Sovereign Obligations. He explained the concept of humans as constitutive subjects who possess sovereignty alongside ethical and social responsibilities. The discussion also covered the relevance of the concept within ethics, law, and higher education systems, including the importance of students’ roles in safeguarding humanitarian values and academic integrity amid technological disruption.
As part of the same series, the humanities festival also announced the winners of the scientific article, poster, and creative video competitions created by active Untar students. The judging panel for the poster category consisted of Prof. Ar. Dr. Ir. Fermanto Lianto, M.T., IAI, Dr. Maitri Widya Mutiara, S.Ds., M.M., and Drs. M. Nashir Setiawan, M.Hum. Meanwhile, the video content category was judged by Dr. Yenita and Roswiyani, M.Psi., Ph.D., Psikolog.
The event reaffirmed the importance of preserving cultural identity and humanitarian values as the foundation for facing changes driven by the development of AI and technology, enabling society to remain inclusive and equitable. (VC/YS)