MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA — A member of the Muhammadiyah Council for Religious Opinion and Tajdid Muhammad Syifa Amin Widigdo emphasized the importance of using our minds wisely in today’s AI-driven world. He expressed concern over how artificial intelligence is increasingly replacing students’ critical thinking.
Syifa shared a classroom experience where students used AI tools to analyze charts and tables. Although the results looked neat and well-organized, the students struggled to explain what the data actually meant during discussions.
“They just copy results from AI tools like ChatGPT without understanding the ideas behind them,” said Syifa in a recent episode of the Wonderhome Library podcast aired on Friday (May 15).
This trend, he noted, reflects a growing dependence on AI in Indonesia, which ranks third globally in AI-related web traffic, following the United States and India. Between 2022 and 2023, the country recorded 1.4 billion AI-related online activities.
Citing a recent survey, Syifa said 97 percent of university students in Indonesia use AI to complete assignments. Yet, 88 percent admit they are aware of the risks such as plagiarism and a decline in critical thinking that come with misusing the technology.
“Many students simply copy and paste AI-generated results without processing them,” added Syifa.
Syifa highlighted the need to develop higher-order thinking skills—the ability to analyze, evaluate, and generate new ideas—rather than relying on surface-level understanding or memorization.
To make his point, he used a football analogy. A Real Madrid fan may be proud of the club’s 15 Champions League titles but fail to reflect on its recent losses, such as in El Clasico or the Copa del Rey.
“If we only focus on memorizing facts and ignore deeper analysis, we won’t be ready to deal with real-life problems,” he warned.
Syifa warned that if people become too dependent on AI, they risk losing what makes humans unique—the power to think, reflect, and reason. He referred to verses from the Qur’an (Surah Ali Imran 190–191) that encourage believers to reflect on the wonders of the universe as a sign of faith and intelligence.
“Reason is a gift that sets us apart. If we stop using our brains, we’re no better than creatures without thought,” he said.
Syifa encouraged people to use AI wisely—letting it support, but not replace, human thinking. It’s important, he said, to keep training our minds to solve real-world challenges, from ethical issues to environmental concerns.
“AI can help us, but we shouldn’t rely on it completely. We still need to think critically and creatively to face increasingly complex problems such as ethics, technology, and environment,” said Syifa.
The podcast served as a reminder that even in this fast-changing digital era, thinking clearly and deeply remains essential.
“That’s why we must not let our minds go idle—mine, yours, or anyone’s. We all need to keep thinking and coming up with ideas to solve the problems of the future,” said Syifa.
