UNAIR NEWS The Postgraduate School of (UNAIR) held a public lecture on Saturday (April 26, 2025), at the Majapahit Room, ASSEC Tower, Dharmawangsa-B Campus. The session, titled “From Indonesia to the World: The Future of the Indonesian Music Industry in the Age of Imitative Intelligence,” featured Deputy Minister of Culture H. Giring Ganesha Djumaryo, S.I.Kom., as the keynote speaker. Minister Djumaryo invited attendees to critically examine the evolving role of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative sector.
AI as tool and a challenge
During his opening remarks, Minister Djumaryo underscored the growing influence of AI in the creative field. He shared his experience experimenting with AI to compose music, expressing disappointment with the emotional disconnect in the final product. 淲hen I created a song using AI, something was missing攊t lacked soul, he said.
He also pointed out the massive global adoption of platforms like ChatGPT, which now boasts over 500 million users. While acknowledging the efficiency AI offers, Minister Djumaryo cautioned about its double-edged nature. 淚n my view, AI is a fifty-fifty situation, he noted.
Creativity conundrum
Minister Djumaryo described AI as a new kind of “inorganic species” with cognitive abilities that often surpass those of humans. Drawing parallels to previous technological revolutions like the atomic bomb, he argued that AI has a more immediate impact on everyday life. He cited trends such as the use of AI to generate pop-culture-inspired illustrations攍ike Eid-themed visuals in Ghibli animation style or toy-like characters.
Nevertheless, he emphasized that AI can never fully replicate the authenticity of human-made art. He referenced the works of renowned Indonesian artists such as Basuki Abdullah, Raden Saleh, and Affandi, suggesting that AI should serve as a reference tool rather than a creative replacement. 淓xcessive reliance on technology can erode our originality, he warned.
Government direction on AI
Shifting focus to policy, Minister Djumaryo outlined the government檚 strategic priorities for AI development. These include cultivating digital talent, improving healthcare delivery, building smart cities, streamlining bureaucracy, and enhancing food security. He stressed that AI must be used ethically and never to promote hate or disinformation, while remaining grounded in national development goals.
In a closing statement, Minister Djumaryo encouraged students攅specially those at UNAIR攖o take an active role in preserving creativity and cultural identity in the face of rapid technological advancement. 淚 see AI as a fifty-fifty deal. It檚 smarter and faster than us, but as humans, we must adapt, he concluded.
Author: Adinda Octavia Setiowati
Editor : Ragil Kukuh Imanto
