Enviro News Asia, Bogor — Communication management professor and Rector of Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Jakarta, Prof. Anter Venus, has emphasized the urgent need to reposition humanity amid the rapid expansion of digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI). According to him, the growing dominance of algorithms in shaping social narratives and influencing human decision-making has become a critical challenge for modern society.
The statement was delivered during the declaration event of Asosiasi Dosen dan Peneliti Ilmu Komunikasi Indonesia at IPB International Convention Center on Thursday (7/5/2026). Serving as Chairman of ADPIKI’s Advisory Board, Prof. Anter Venus called on communication lecturers and researchers to become key drivers in strengthening humanity’s position amid the growing influence of AI.
“Today, algorithms are increasingly taking over human roles, shaping social reality and influencing life decisions,” said Prof. Anter Venus.
He explained that public information consumption has increased dramatically in recent years. On average, individuals consume up to 34 gigabytes of information daily, spend approximately six hours on the internet, and around 3.7 hours on social media platforms. AI penetration, he noted, is particularly significant among Generation Z at 43.7 percent, followed by millennials at 22.3 percent, out of Indonesia’s estimated 180 million social media users.
According to him, AI adoption will continue to rise as humans consistently provide the data that serves as the foundation for algorithmic systems capable of replacing human functions across multiple sectors.
Prof. Anter Venus warned that the excessive flow of digital information has contributed to the spread of misinformation, disinformation, and infodemics, which could negatively affect social life and public trust. He stressed that communication scholars and practitioners carry a major responsibility in ensuring that information circulating within society remains factual, ethical, and educational.
“In the digital and AI era, communication is no longer merely a process of delivering messages, but has become an arena for shaping social reality,” he stated.
He further explained that the overwhelming volume of personalized and algorithm-driven digital content has placed significant psychological and social pressure on society, creating what is increasingly recognized as digital fatigue. For this reason, he argued that repositioning humanity within the digital ecosystem has become increasingly urgent.
To strengthen humanity’s role in the AI era, Prof. Anter Venus encouraged the enhancement of digital literacy, stronger information verification practices, and the promotion of ethical communication as essential measures to prevent society from being trapped by manipulative algorithm-based information flows. (*)
