Jakarta. United Tractors recently held a journalist workshop to equip reporters in facing the rising popularity of artificial intelligence (AI).

The forum, held to coincide with the company's 54th anniversary, tackled the theme “Human Journalism in the Age of AI: Strengthening Trust and Media Credibility”.

Ari Sutrisno, Director of Human Capital, Communications & Sustainability at United Tractors, said that the company remained committed to upholding information transparency. They also welcome input and constructive criticism from the media.

"We want to ensure that our relationship remains strong, regardless of the circumstances. It is also crucial that we work together to enhance our respective competencies and knowledge —both for the company and for the journalists," Ari said.

He went on to say that AI had also become a vital pillar in the business operations at the United Tractors, which is also part of the now 70-year-old Astra Group. United Tractors has been pursuing digitalization efforts since 2018.

“We must closely follow the evolution of digitalization toward AI; we can no longer avoid it. Instead, we must become an integral part of this AI development,” explained Ari.

AI as An Aid, Not A Replacement for Journalists

Abdul Manan, who heads the legal commission at the Press Council, said that AI should serve as an assistive tool rather than a replacement for the role of journalists in news production.

“Any information obtained through AI must be verified to prevent errors in data or the substance of the reporting, ensuring that the core objective of high-quality, accurate journalism is upheld,” said Abdul.

According to Abdul, journalists must also maintain a critical stance toward information generated by AI, as its accuracy is not guaranteed. Consequently, a verification process remains essential before such information is incorporated into journalistic work.

Using AI Wisely in the Newsroom

The Jakarta Globe and Investor Daily editor-in-chief Djaka Susila warned of the substantial risks from AI misuse in newsrooms.

“AI has indeed entered the newsroom, but we must be aware of its limitations. While tools like ChatGPT, Claude, or other AI assistants make it easier to summarize data or lengthy documents, AI is not a primary source of truth,” Djaka said.

Djaka urged the press to return to classic journalistic methods — going directly into the field, digging for in-depth information, and meeting sources face-to-face — while positioning AI strictly as a "smart assistant" to support their work, rather than as a replacement for a journalist’s own conscience and integrity.

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