IABC Indonesia Highlights the Future of Public Trust in the AI Era:Humanity-Centered Strategic Communication

Photo 1: Keynote speakers with the Board of Directors of IABC Indonesia. From left to right: Elvera N. Makki, President of IABC Indonesia and Founder & CEO of VMCS Communications & Social Impact; Prof. Stella Christie, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia; Prof. Dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Sp.PD-KEMD, Ph.D., Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia; Emil Elestianto Dardak, Deputy Governor of East Java; Shanti Ruwyastuti, Board Member of IABC Indonesia; and Dwi Fatan Lilyana, Director of Human Resources and General Affairs at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero).

Jakarta, December 8, 2025 — Amid rapid technological advancement and the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Indonesia spotlighted the future of public trust in an AI-driven era increasingly vulnerable to deepfakes. At the IABC Indonesia Conference and Awards, discussions focused on trust-based strategic communication, humanity, and digital impact.

Photo 2: Remarks from Elvera N. Makki (President of IABC Indonesia, Founder & CEO of VMCS Communications & Social Impact), who officially opened the 2025 Conference with a strong message that communication rooted in trust, humanity, and digital impact is the foundation of leadership that can truly inspire action.

Elvera N. Makki, President of IABC Indonesia and Founder & CEO of VMCS Communications and Social Impact, emphasized that public trust is now the primary currency of modern leadership.“In the digital ecosystem, technology can accelerate messages, but only humanity can deepen meaning. In the AI era, strategic communication is no longer just about accuracy—it must be empathetic, ethical, and grounded in human rights.”

Photo 3: Presentation from the second keynote speech by Prof. Stella Christie (Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia). In her address, Prof. Stella emphasized the importance of developing human-centered digital thinkers. She explained that information in the digital space greatly influences how society processes messages, especially related to hoaxes. This challenge must continue to be addressed through education and collective effort, encouraging the use of research and empirical evidence to solve various issues in Indonesia and around the world.

Prof. Stella Christie, Indonesia’s Deputy Minister for Higher Education, Science, and Research (Dikti Saintek), delivered a keynote speech on the importance of cultivating human-centered digital thinkers.“Hoaxes pose a very serious threat, and are among the most critical issues in Indonesia. More than 1,100 experts from 136 countries have identified misinformation and disinformation as one of the most serious global threats today. AI makes the creation of hoaxes easier, and in the past year, the spread of AI-generated false information has doubled,” she explained.She outlined four key reasons why people believe hoaxes: political partisanship, cognitive reflection, prior knowledge,and heuristics.

“Fact-checking has been our main response to hoaxes. But there are behavioral solutions we must adopt: proactive ‘prebunking,’ accuracy nudges, systemic solutions like the wisdom of the crowd, and long-term solutions such as education,” Prof. Stella added.

Photo 5: Keynote speech 3 delivered by Emil Elestianto Dardak, Deputy Governor of East Java, at the 2025 IABC Indonesia Awards. He emphasized that the greatest communication challenge today is digital framing, where factual information can have its perception altered and negatively impact an organization or brand. Therefore, we must remain vigilant and proactive in anticipating these dynamics, and we must not overlook social media as a space where various narratives continue to evolve.

Dr. Ir. Emil Elestianto Dardak, Deputy Governor of East Java, who also gave a keynote speech, highlighted that the biggest communication challenge today is digital framing.“Rapid framing for social media engagement—without verification—harms many parties, not only politicians and public officials, but also businesses, including MSMEs.”Thus, he stressed, we must remain vigilant and extremely careful in responding to these dynamics.

Photo 4: Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Sp.PD-KEMD, Ph.D., Deputy Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, emphasized the importance of transparent and easily understood health communication amid the era of misinformation to build public trust. According to him, behavioral change cannot happen instantly; people need to feel emotionally connected. Therefore, communication must be supported by accurate data and grounded in empathy and real stories, not merely numbers.

Speaking on humanity, Prof. Dr. Dante Saksono Harbuwono, Sp.PD-KEMD, Ph.D., Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Health, stated:“Communication requires more than the presentation of accurate data, it demands empathy and real stories from people across all layers of society, especially those struggling in Indonesia’s remote areas. The ability to transform statistics into stories and empathy is essential for the public communication sector, especially digital communication.”

Photo 6: Panelist Abdullah Fahmi, VP of Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility at Telkomsel Indonesia (center), explained the vital role of companies in leveraging AI technology and digitalization across all sectors in Indonesia—from government and enterprise to education.

Meanwhile, Bank Mandiri views strengthening digital innovation as part of efforts to maintain stability and drive national economic acceleration.“Building trust in the digital era begins by placing humanity at the heart of every innovation. By adopting ESG principles in our business practices, Bank Mandiri continues to grow in creating digital impact that empowers communities, strengthens society, and ensures sustainable shared futures,” said Monica Yoanita Octavia, Senior Vice President of Environmental, Social & Governance at Bank Mandiri.

Photo 7: Arif Mujahidin, Communication Director of Danone Indonesia, reiterated the core purpose of communication: to shine and to shield—meaning to promote stories that reflect the company’s values while also optimally protecting Danone’s reputation.

Abdullah Fahmi, VP of Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility at Telkomsel Indonesia, emphasized that:“Digital transformation requires more than a strong network. Responsible communication is needed to ensure that every step toward sustainability is understood, accepted, and upheld. As communicators, we build the trust that enables technology to create real positive impact for the entire nation.”

Danone Indonesia has also succeeded in redefining communication’s impact on business sustainability.“The secret formula for impactful communication is empathy—whether in protection or promotion. At Danone Indonesia, we speak in the language of our target audience, ensuring understanding that shapes positive public perception, and ultimately, communication that strengthens business sustainability,” said Arif Mujahidin, Corporate Communication, Danone Indonesia.

Photo 8: Keynote speakers with the Board of Directors of IABC Indonesia. From left to right: Elvera N. Makki, President of IABC Indonesia and Founder & CEO of VMCS Communications & Social Impact; Emil Elestianto Dardak, Deputy Governor of East Java; Prof. Stella Christie, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia; Shanti Ruwyastuti, Board Member of IABC Indonesia; and Dwi Fatan Lilyana, Director of Human Resources and General Affairs at PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero), who also serves as an Advisor to IABC Indonesia.

Elvera concluded “The communication trend for 2026 is strengthening trust through transparency, integrity, and the courage to acknowledge limitations. Humanity is the compass. AI may accelerate the world, but only humanity can stabilize it. Going forward, Indonesian communicators must stand at the forefront—connecting data with empathy, technology with ethics, and innovation with social responsibility.”