Exclusive Interview with Alex Budiyanto, Founder of AI Hub: Expert's Take on AI vs Art

Kapanlagi.com - KapanLagi had the opportunity to discuss the massive development of AI with one of the experts, Mr. Alex Budiyanto, Founder of Indonesia Artificial Intelligence Hub (aihub.id) and also the Chairman of the Indonesian Cloud Computing Association. We asked many questions regarding the use of AI, which is currently so massive.

Discussing AI, we can see that there are many pros and cons among the public. Mr. Alex also shares his opinion as an expert in the technology field, which can provide enlightenment for all of us, KLovers. Not only that, we also received recommendations on what AI tools are suitable for certain fields. You definitely need to read this to avoid choosing the wrong AI tools to use!

Of course, many are also curious about the response of experts in the Technology field regarding the AI-generated phenomenon with Ghibli style that is currently trending on social media. What does Mr. Alex have to say?

"AI should be a tool to enrich the art world, not to undermine the appreciation of human works that are full of dedication." - Alex Budiyanto

1. Challenges of AI Usage

Q: As someone who has been involved in the technology world for a long time, what do you think about the current development of AI, Mr. Alex?

ALEX: If we look at the journey over the past few years, the development of AI has been truly astonishingly rapid. In the past, AI was mostly found in laboratories or discussed in academic seminars. Now, AI is in the hands of everyone, helping us in many aspects of life, from daily tasks to creative endeavors.

Interestingly, AI is not just becoming a tool, but is also starting to be a catalyst for change. Many sectors are affected, ranging from education, healthcare, creative industries, to cybersecurity. AI is no longer just a technology of the future; it has become a part of our lives today.

I see that in the future, AI will become more personal and increasingly integrated into the various services and systems we use daily. But of course, this progress also brings new challenges, such as how we maintain ethical use of AI, protect data privacy, and ensure that this technology is accessible fairly to everyone.

2. Reasons Why AI is Rapidly Developing Like Now

Q: Was there ever a notion that many tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok would emerge in the world of AI?

ALEX: Honestly, looking at the development of machine learning and natural language processing technology over the past few years, we could indeed imagine that there would be a significant leap. But the speed at which tools like ChatGPT, DeepSeek, and Grok have appeared is still beyond my expectations.

What has accelerated everything is certainly tied to advancements in cloud computing. In the past, building and training large AI models required a massive infrastructure investment. But with the advent of cloud, access to super-fast and scalable computing has become easier and more affordable. Anyone, from startups and universities to large companies, can develop their own AI.

Thanks to the cloud, various AI services can be accessed directly through APIs, making the integration of AI into applications much faster. So, even though the development of AI could be predicted, cloud computing has truly become the catalyst that accelerates all of this happening on a larger scale.

3. Recommendations for AI Tools to Improve Skills

illustration of AI tools

Q: What does Mr. Alex think about AI tools that Gen Z can utilize to enhance their skills?

ALEX: In my opinion, Gen Z currently has an extraordinary opportunity to develop their skills with the help of various AI-based tools. If we look closely, these tools can actually be grouped based on the skill areas they want to develop. Here are some of them:

1. To improve writing and communication skills:
Gen Z can use tools like ChatGPT to help organize ideas, create essays, articles, or even practice writing job application letters. Additionally, Grammarly and Quillbot can be used to correct grammar, clarify sentences, and enhance professional English writing skills. For example, when writing college essays or personal blog content, they will feel more confident in their writing results.

2. To learn programming and technology:
Tools like GitHub Copilot can be a very helpful coding assistant. These tools can provide code snippet suggestions, help resolve errors, or speed up the learning process of programming languages like Python, JavaScript, or C#. For example, when creating a simple application or coding project for college assignments, Gen Z can get practical guidance from AI.

3. For visual creativity and design:
For those looking to hone their skills in the creative field, Canva AI with its Magic Design feature can help create posters, infographics, or presentations with attractive designs in a short time. Meanwhile, Runway ML allows exploration in video editing or AI-based animation creation, even for those without professional experience in design. Adobe has also integrated AI extensively into its products and services.

4. To support research and self-learning:
In terms of research, Perplexity AI and Consensus AI are very useful. They help find data-driven references and scientific journals, summarize important information, and speed up the process of understanding new topics. For example, when Gen Z wants to learn about the latest issues regarding climate change or digital business trends, these tools can help find relevant information quickly.

4. AI Vs Art

Ghibli's artificial character (instagram.com/ghibliusa) - Portrait of artists participating in viral trends in the style of Studio Ghibli. (source: Instagram/fendychow)

Q: What does Mr. Alex think about the Ghibli phenomenon using AI?

ALEX: If we look at the recent phenomenon, many people are using AI to create images or cartoons in the style of Studio Ghibli. On one hand, this shows how powerful and iconic Ghibli's visual style is in the eyes of the world. But on the other hand, it raises significant issues regarding copyright and the originality of works.

With the advent of generative AI tools, anyone can now produce images resembling Ghibli's works in seconds, without going through the lengthy creative process that the original animators undertook. In fact, many works circulating on the internet use the Ghibli style without any connection or official permission from Studio Ghibli itself. This clearly poses a new challenge, not only from a business perspective but also in terms of respect for artistic works.

In my opinion, this is a real example of how technology can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, AI opens up broader access to creativity. But on the other hand, it also blurs the lines between original works and imitations, especially when it concerns artistic styles with a strong identity like Ghibli.

Moving forward, I think it is important to have clearer regulations regarding the use of AI in the creative world, especially concerning copyright, artist protection, and how this technology is used ethically. AI should be a tool to enrich the art world, not to undermine the appreciation of dedicated human works.

5. Profile of Alex Budiyanto, an Expert in Technology

personal document

Q: Can you tell us about Mr. Alex's journey in the field of technology that led him to become an expert in the technology field as he is today?

ALEX: When talking about my journey in the technology world, it all actually started from a great curiosity. While still in college, I was active in various technology communities such as the Indonesian Linux User Group (KPLI), IlmuKomputer.Com, Microsoft User Group, and several other communities. From these communities, I learned a lot, met great people, and followed various developments in the latest technology. You could say that the community was my "second school" outside of the classroom.

After graduating, I had the opportunity to start my professional career at Sun Microsystems Indonesia as Education & Community Manager. At that time, Sun Microsystems was one of the IT giants in the world, and the experience of building and managing communities such as the Java User Group Indonesia, Open Solaris User Group Indonesia, Open Source University Meetup, etc., opened my eyes to how technology is developed and applied.

When Sun Microsystems was acquired by Oracle, I then shifted to help build the Nokia developer community in Indonesia, before finally joining Microsoft Indonesia. At Microsoft, I began to delve more seriously into cloud computing, a field that was starting to grow rapidly at that time.

In 2012, not many people understood cloud computing, which motivated me to establish the Cloud Computing Indonesia community. This community later became the Indonesian Cloud Computing Association in 2017. When talking about cloud computing, we certainly cannot overlook its security aspects, so in 2021 I took the initiative to establish the Indonesia Cyber Security Hub (cyberhub.id) which was launched by the Head of the National Cyber and Crypto Agency.

Then, as more and more AI services are built on cloud platforms, I see a great opportunity in the world of artificial intelligence. Therefore, I also established the Indonesia Artificial Intelligence Hub, as an effort to promote the adoption and innovation of AI in Indonesia.

If asked what the key to this journey is, for me it is simple: keep learning, be brave to try, and always be open to change.

(kpl/jje)