REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- Universitas Muhammadiyah Jakarta (UMJ) together with Republika held an academic discussion on “AI and the Future of Religious Science: Helping, Not Replacing” on today. The activity, which took place at UMJ campus, Ciputat, Tangerang Selatan, Banten, was also accompanied by an exclusive trial of an artificial intelligence (AI) platform called Aiman Aisha.
Editor-in-Chief of Republika, Andi Muhyiddin, said that Republika developed an AI chatbot named Aiman and Aisha as study companions.
“Aiman and Aisha as study friends who are ready to answer basic questions about religion, in an easy, interactive way and God willing can be accounted for because currently our key source is based only on the Quran,” said a familiar figure addressed to Dio at KH Ahmad Azhar Basyir Auditorium, UMJ Scholars Building, Thursday (3/7/2025).
According to him, young people are now often using AI as a place to ask questions. In fact, sometimes their questions are often unexpected aka out of the box.
Of course, Dio said, answers from indirect AI can provide some kind of religious fatwa. After all, the existence of Aiman and Aisha reflects, the younger generation wants to learn religion in a close and relevant way.
Dio said that Aiman and Aisha were present as study companions who were ready to answer at any time and direct to sources of religious science. In the digital age, Republika as a mass media does not want to simply be a spectator.
Republika chose to adapt while maintaining Islamic values and journalistic ethics. “We believe that technology like AI can be an enlightening tool if we put it at the forefront,” Dio said.
According to him, Republika's collaboration with UMJ presents optimism for a future in which the development of Islamic proclamation and science go hand in hand. The hope is that Indonesia's Muslim generation is not only strong in its faith, but also capable of using or even creating technology.
Republika itself is constantly adapting. Dio said that this mass media has been established since 1993, first of all in the form of newspapers. In 1995, Republika added a digital platform, namely Republika Online.
Therefore, Dio continued, his side could not turn a blind eye to the presence of AI in today's world. Even journalism companies can take a role in it.
“But we are aware that technology must not sacrifice the principles of truth and partiality to the welfare of the people,” Dio said.
Dio said that if the students wanted to find out about religion, but were afraid of being “pretentious”, then Aiman and Aisha could become friends. Even if they tend to feel that just googling isn't enough.
However, Dio makes a wanti, AI is not a guardian. This technology is just a tool that facilitates.
“Because in life, it is not artificial intelligence that saves us, but actual faith,” said Dio.
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