Celebrate 45 Years, BINUS University Board of Professors Promotes AI for Life for the Future of Indonesia 

Photo: Special

JAKARTA - Commemorating the 45th anniversary of BINUS University's journey, the BINUS University Board of Professors emphasized the importance of the role of universities in presenting real thoughts, solutions, and contributions to the wider community. This momentum is not only a celebration of BINUS' long journey, but also a space for reflection to strengthen commitment to provide a positive impact for Indonesia.

For 45 years, BINUS University has continued to grow as a higher education institution that nurtures and empowers the community through education, research, innovation, collaboration, and dedication. In line with the vision of A World-class University, Fostering and Empowering the Society in Building and Serving the Nation, BINUS considers that the role of the university does not stop at the implementation of education, but also includes the responsibility to help answer various national challenges.

In this momentum of Lustrum IX, the Board of Professors of BINUS University has raised the idea of AI for Life, namely how artificial intelligence or Artificial Intelligence (AI) can be used more meaningfully, ethically, and responsibly to support human life, strengthen human resources, encourage productivity, and expand positive impacts for society and the nation.

This idea comes in the midst of the rapid development of AI and affects various aspects of life. The Board of Professors of BINUS University assessed that discussion regarding AI should not stop at the use of tools or applications alone. AI needs to be understood more comprehensively as part of the transformation of life, education, industry, creativity, governance, law, and national strategies.

Chairman of the Board of Professors of BINUS University, Prof. Dr. Ir. Harjanto Prabowo, M.M., said that the 45th anniversary of BINUS was an important momentum for the professors not only to be present in the academic space, but also to deliver thought contributions to the wider community.

"At the age of 45 years old, BINUS, we are grateful for the journey that has been passed and appreciate all the contributions that have shaped BINUS to this day. However, gratitude must also be realized through a commitment to continue to work and contribute to Indonesia. Through the idea of AI for Life, the BINUS Board of Professors wants to emphasize that technology, especially AI, must be directed to strengthen human life, not replace it," said Prof. Harjanto.

The idea of AI for Life was formulated by the BINUS University Board of Professors through a cross-disciplinary approach. This approach emphasizes that AI is not only a technological issue, but also relates to education, industry, creativity, governance, law, geopolitics, and national policies.

This forum presents cross-disciplinary thinking from BINUS University Professors who highlight various strategic aspects of the utilization of AI for the future of Indonesia, as follows:

Sub-team A: Technology, Engineering, and Information Technology with All Its Impacts

This sub-team consists of Prof. Firdaus Alamsjah, Prof. Widodo Budiharto, and Prof. Engkos A. Kuncoro. This focus highlights the importance of digital transformation that does not stop at the use of technology. AI needs to be used to increase productivity, strengthen the quality of decision-making, build new capabilities, and create innovations that have an impact on industry and society.

In the view of Sub-team A, Indonesia's challenge is not merely to adopt AI, but how to turn AI into real economic and social value. Organizations, industries, and educational institutions need to move from AI adoption to AI transformation, from merely using technology to being able to create value through technology. This requires the readiness of human resources, digital literacy, data governance, privacy protection, ethics, and adaptive leadership.

Sub-team B: Creative Business and Industry with All Opportunities and Challenges

This sub-team consists of Prof. Harjanto Prabowo, Prof. John Fredy Bobby Saragih, Prof. Mita Purbasari Wahidiyat, and Prof. Lindrianasari. This focus emphasizes that AI needs to be understood not as a threat to creativity and the business world, but as an opportunity to strengthen innovation, efficiency, competitiveness, and the creation of new value in the Indonesian business and creative industry ecosystem.

In the creative industry, AI can be a partner that helps accelerate the exploration of ideas, expand access to production, and open up new economic opportunities. However, creativity still requires taste, cultural context, life experience, social sensitivity, and human interpretation. Therefore, AI is not a shortcut to replace creativity, but a technology that needs to be managed to enrich the creative process and strengthen the added value of human work.

Sub-team C: Global Geopolitics, Law, and National Policy Strategy

This sub-team consists of Prof. Mts Arief, Prof. Tirta N. Mursitama, and Prof. Shidarta. This focus highlights the importance of Indonesia's readiness in facing global challenges related to AI, including data sovereignty, cyber security, asymmetric warfare, regulation, legal certainty, and adaptive national policy directions that are in the interest of the nation.

AI has now become part of a global dynamic that affects a country's competitiveness, national security, governance, and Indonesia's position in international politics. Therefore, the use of AI needs to be supported by consistent policies, responsive regulations, personal data protection, and national strategies that are able to protect public interests while encouraging innovation.

Through these three focuses, the BINUS University Board of Professors wants to emphasize that AI needs to be understood holistically. AI is not only about technological sophistication, but about how technology can be directed to strengthen human quality of life, expand access, create opportunities, protect society, and support national development.

This thinking is also in line with the scientific oration which raises the theme "Shaping the Next Intelligence Era: Artificial Intelligence, Leadership, and Collaboration." In the new intelligence era, leadership and collaboration are the key so that AI can

provide wider benefits. Technology cannot stand alone without direction, values, and responsibilities. Therefore, universities have an important role in building literacy, ethics, research, talent, and policies that are able to make AI a force for life.

Through the concept of AI for Life, BINUS University wants to encourage the use of AI that is human-centric. AI needs to be part of the solution to improve the quality of education, strengthen the industry, support policymaking, expand access to opportunities, and create a more equitable social impact.

"BINUS was born with the spirit of Bina Nusantara. Therefore, every thought and innovation that we present must return to contributing to the nation. AI for Life is an invitation for us not only to pursue technological progress, but also to ensure that technology brings real benefits to humans and Indonesia," added Prof. Harjanto.

The 45-year momentum of BINUS is also a reminder that the contribution of universities is not only measured by institutional achievements, but also by the extent to which science, research, and expertise can provide answers to community needs. Through the role of the Board of Professors, BINUS University continues to strengthen its commitment to being part of the national conversation on the future of education, technology, industry, law, and public policy.

With the spirit of BINUS Berkarya and Co-Creating the Intelligent Society, BINUS University hopes that this idea can contribute to society, government, industry, the world of education, and various stakeholders in building a more adaptive, collaborative, inclusive, and impactful future for Indonesia.

Through AI for Life, BINUS invites all parties to see artificial intelligence not only as a symbol of technological progress, but as a means to strengthen life, empower people, and build a more prepared Indonesia for the future.