Yogyakarta (20/07/2026) – Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become one of the defining forces shaping governance, creativity, and public life. As intelligent technologies increasingly influence how societies make decisions, produce knowledge, and imagine the future, the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIPOL), Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), in collaboration with the University of Melbourne, convened the Australia-Indonesia in Conversation (AIC) 2026 under the theme “Is AI the Game-Changer? Intelligence Unbound: Ethics, Power, and the Imagination of Life in the Digital Age.”
The symposium brought together leading academics, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from Indonesia and Australia to explore the ethical, political, and cultural implications of AI through interdisciplinary dialogue.
The conversation aimed to strengthen the longstanding partnership between UGM and the University of Melbourne while creating a platform for knowledge exchange on responsible AI development. Through cross-sectoral discussions, the symposium encouraged participants to examine how societies can preserve ethical agency, democratic values, and human creativity amid rapid technological transformation. The initiative also sought to generate policy recommendations that promote equitable, sustainable, and responsible applications of intelligent technologies.
The first panel, “Governing Intelligence: Ethics, Power, and the Politics of Knowing,” explored how AI increasingly shapes governance, policymaking, and public communication. Discussions highlighted that intelligent systems not only automate decision-making processes but also influence how knowledge is produced, circulated, and legitimized. As algorithms become embedded in public institutions and digital platforms, questions surrounding transparency, accountability, and the political economy of knowledge have become increasingly urgent.
Bringing together perspectives from both Australia and Indonesia, the panel featured Prof. Robert Hassan and Dr. Silvia Montaña-Niño from the University of Melbourne alongside Dirgayuza Setiawan and Prof. Dr. Rr. Siti Murtiningsih from Universitas Gadjah Mada. The discussion examined the relationship between AI, political power, and ethical governance, emphasizing the need to critically understand how both human and artificial intelligence shape public discourse, democratic institutions, and decision-making processes.
The second panel, “Sustaining Imagination: Eco-Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Ethics of Intelligent Futures,” shifted attention to the intersection of AI, creativity, and sustainability. Speakers discussed how advances in generative AI are transforming artistic expression, cultural production, and human-machine collaboration while raising important ethical questions regarding authorship, creativity, and environmental responsibility. The conversation underscored the importance of ensuring that technological innovation continues to support human imagination rather than replace it.
The session featured Assoc. Prof. Edwin Jurriëns and Dr. Jasmin Pfefferkorn from the University of Melbourne together with Dr. Dedy Permadi and Treviliana Eka Putri from Universitas Gadjah Mada. Drawing from expertise in media studies, AI governance, international relations, and digital culture, the speakers reflected on how ethical principles, sustainability, and cultural values can guide the development of intelligent technologies that benefit society.
Throughout the symposium, participants emphasized that AI should not be understood solely as a technological breakthrough but as a socio-political phenomenon that requires collaborative governance across disciplines and sectors. Discussions reaffirmed the importance of integrating ethical reflection, public accountability, and international cooperation into AI development to ensure that innovation contributes to more inclusive and resilient societies.
The Australia-Indonesia in Conversation 2026 reaffirmed the shared commitment of FISIPOL UGM and the University of Melbourne to advancing interdisciplinary research, strengthening academic collaboration, and fostering meaningful dialogue on the future of artificial intelligence. By bringing together scholars, policymakers, and practitioners from both countries, the symposium serves as an important platform for shaping responsible AI governance and imagining equitable digital futures across the Asia-Pacific region.
Author: Azzallea Ega Riesta ChristsandaEditor: Masgustian