By: Dhita Karuniawati )*
The development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transformed the way humans work, learn, communicate, and even make decisions. The presence of AI brings numerous benefits, from helping complete work more quickly, supporting scientific research, increasing business efficiency, and streamlining public services. However, despite these conveniences, AI also presents new challenges that are far more complex than those encountered in the previous digital era.
The ability of AI to produce text, images, videos, and sounds that closely resemble human creations has blurred the line between true and false information. Deepfakes, disinformation, visual manipulation, and the spread of hoaxes can now be produced more quickly and massively with the help of AI technology. This situation demands that the public have digital literacy skills that go beyond simply understanding how to use the internet or social media, but also the ability to think critically about all information received.
The government is also aware of these changing challenges. The Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital, Nezar Patria, stated that the digital literacy approach, which has focused on basic skills in using digital devices and the internet, is no longer adequate to address the development of AI. He stated that digital literacy programs are now geared toward improving skills or upskilling that are more contextual, productive, and tailored to the needs of society in the era of artificial intelligence. He believes that society needs to be equipped with the skills to deal with disinformation, misinformation, and hoaxes, which are increasingly growing alongside the rapid advancement of AI technology.
This paradigm shift indicates that digital literacy is entering a new phase. While previously the primary focus was on reducing the gap in internet access and improving technology use, the orientation has now shifted to the ability to understand, evaluate, and utilize AI responsibly.
Digital literacy in the AI era is no longer simply measured by the ability to operate applications or search for information through search engines. Far more important is the ability to question the validity of information, recognize the possibility of digital manipulation, understand how AI algorithms work, and recognize that AI results are not absolute truths. AI operates based on learned data, so it still has the potential to produce erroneous, biased, or even fabricated information (hallucinations).
In this context, society needs to develop the habit of verifying information through various credible sources. Any information received, especially that which provokes emotions or contains extraordinary claims, should be carefully reviewed before being believed or shared. A healthy skepticism is an essential part of modern digital literacy.
AI also presents significant ethical challenges. Issues of copyright, data privacy, cybersecurity, and even misuse of technology are becoming increasingly common. Various professions are now utilizing AI to increase productivity, but on the other hand, concerns are growing about the loss of certain types of jobs due to automation. Therefore, the ability to adapt and improve competencies are non-negotiable.
President Prabowo Subianto even expressed his concern about the impact of AI. Prabowo warned that the development of AI offers significant opportunities for national progress, but also carries risks if not managed wisely. This powerful technology can provide significant benefits for human welfare, but at the same time, it has the potential to pose threats if misused. He even linked the potential risks of AI to other strategic technologies, including nuclear technology, necessitating adequate governance, regulation, and human resource readiness.
This warning demonstrates that AI development is not simply about pursuing technological innovation. It is more important to ensure that humans remain the primary controllers of its use. AI should be positioned as a tool to improve decision-making, not a replacement for human reasoning.
The world of education is one of the sectors most impacted by the development of AI. Students can now obtain instant answers in seconds. However, this convenience has the potential to undermine critical thinking skills if AI is used without proper understanding. The learning process should not stop at obtaining answers, but rather at understanding the reasoning behind those answers, testing their validity, and being able to develop independent thinking.
The same applies in the workplace. Companies are beginning to integrate AI into various operational activities, from customer service toFrom subscriptions, data analysis, marketing, to human resource management, employees are not only required to be proficient in using AI, but also to understand its limitations. The ability to evaluate AI work results is becoming a new competency increasingly needed in various professions.
The change in digital literacy policy direction implemented by the Ministry of Communication and Digital shows that the government recognizes this challenge. Based on an evaluation of the digital literacy program, which has been running for almost a decade, the government believes that society has passed the basic learning stage of internet use. The next focus is on improving AI skills, critical thinking skills, and community resilience in the face of increasingly sophisticated disinformation and hoaxes.
The AI era is not just about technological sophistication, but also about the quality of people who utilize it. Digital literacy must develop into critical thinking skills, the ability to verify information, understand digital ethics, maintain personal data security, and use AI responsibly. Without these skills, society risks becoming victims of information manipulation, which is increasingly difficult to detect.
AI will continue to evolve and become part of everyday life. Therefore, the greatest investment is not only in technological development, but also in developing people who can use technology intelligently, ethically, and critically. With more mature digital literacy, Indonesians will not only be users of AI but also be able to control the direction of its use for the advancement of the nation.
*) The author is a contributor to the Indonesian Strategic Information Study Institute