VP Gibran reviews AI training for Islamic boarding school students

 Indonesian Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka visited the Islamic boarding school, Perguruan Islam Pondok Tremas, in Pacitan, East Java, to directly monitor the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) training for students.

According to the VP Secretariat official statement received here on Thursday, Gibran visited the school as a companionship visit while reviewing the steps to strengthen younger generation, including the students, in facing digital transformation.

"It is very important to face the challenges of an increasingly digital era in the future. Everyone must learn and students must not be left behind," he said.

He emphasized that learning robotics, AI, and coding is crucial in sharpening students’ critical and computational thinking, so that they become not only users, but also creators of technology.

In a dialogue session with the students, Gibran responded to concerns raised by a student who expressed worries about technological developments. He feared that in the future, many jobs would be replaced by robots and artificial intelligence.

In response, Gibran stressed that humans still play the main role behind technology.

"Who creates the robots? Humans, don't they? AI requires prompting and the ones typing the prompts are still humans, right? In fact, there will be many new types of jobs. So, there is no need to worry. Humans will not be replaced," he said.

He also underscored the key to facing the change is readiness to continue learning and adapting.

"I am confident this will be useful in the future, especially when they enter the workforce, and what we call technological disruption is becoming increasingly beyond our control. That is why we must always upgrade ourselves," he said.

The AI and robotics training lasted for two days and involved 30 students at the senior high school level. The activity introduced a curriculum based on computational thinking, mathematical reasoning, and problem-solving skills.