Jakarta: On February 24, 2025, the Badan Riset dan inovasi daerah (BRIDA) Kabupaten Banggai hosted the BRIDA Training Camp Series III, themed "Utilization of AI to Support Governance Management in Banggai District." This event served as a strategic collaboration platform aimed at fostering regional innovations through the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The gathering witnessed the presence of the Bupati and Vice Bupati of Kabupaten Banggai, representatives from BRIDA, local government agencies, village and community officers, and local polytechnic representatives. The event commenced with welcoming remarks by Muh. Ikhsan Budiono from BRIDA Kabupaten Banggai.
Anto Satriyo Nugroho, head of the Center for AI Research and Cybersecurity (PRKAKS) at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), shared several AI initiatives developed by PRKAKS. Among these were e-voting, the Digital Document Storage System (SIMPAN), and the Electronic Management System (SIMRAL). "E-voting has been utilized by 1,000 villages across Indonesia, whereas SIMPAN has been tested in 13 regions and managed by Pusdatin BRIN. SIMRAL has been deployed by over 20 regional governments for digitizing document management," stated Anto.
Anto explained SIMPAN's functionalities, which cater to knowledge databases, search engines, discussion forums, and article management for admin and content managers. He introduced SIMRAL as an integrated information system for coordinating developmental program activities, budgeting, financial management, and performance accountability reporting. This application is utilized prior to the General Local Government Information System (SIPD) being set as the standard application.
Further discussing the strategic employment of AI, keynote speaker Hilman Ferdinandus Pardede elaborated on the topic "Benefits of AI in Accelerative Innovation at the Regional Level." Hilman noted AI's capability to understand, learn, and make decisions based on data patterns. "This technology can be applied across various sectors, such as public services via chatbots and data processing for data-driven decision-making," he explained.
Despite its promises, Hilman pointed out several challenges to AI implementation, including data availability, security, and privacy. He advocated for stronger collaboration among government and stakeholders, enhancing human resource capacity on AI and data science, investing significantly in foundational data development, and implementing AI policies grounded on ethical principles. "With optimal AI utilization, Banggai Regency is expected to improve public service quality and support regional economic growth through technology-based innovation," he added.
While the potential of AI shines bright, deployment within the education sector demands substantial investment. This includes high-performance hardware for computation and costly AI software licenses. Schools, particularly those with limited resources, face significant hurdles.
Access to quality data and sufficient expert staff is imperative for AI's success. AI's effectiveness depends on vast amounts of data to train its models for accurate results, yet many schools lack adequate data management systems or struggle with inefficiencies. Added to the equation is the pressing need for personnel well-versed in AI technology for development, management, and educational application.
Privacy and data security concerns loom over the educational use of AI. To enable personalized learning, AI must collect and analyze diverse student data, including personal details, academic performance, and learning patterns. This raises risks of data breaches, misuse of information, and potential privacy violations.
Additional challenges arise as disparities between schools may widen due to unequal access to technology. Institutions with ample resources can afford more advanced AI implementation, leading to educational inequities among students from varying backgrounds.
Given the insights provided during the BRIDA Training Camp Series III, the discussions steered toward the imperative of fostering collaboration, enhancing human resource skills, and ensuring ethical practices. Such strategies are pivotal for maximizing AI's benefits across governance and education frameworks.
The aspirations set forth during the event highlight AI's transformative potential, encouraging stakeholders to navigate appropriate policies and practices as they bolster Banggai's regional innovations through informed technological adoption.