ARTIFICIAL intelligence (AI) should be embraced as a learning tool, but students must ensure it enhances rather than replaces their ability to think critically and independently, says Star Media Group deputy executive editor Dr Christina Chin.
She said while AI can help generate ideas and improve efficiency, students should not become so dependent on the technology that they lose the ability to analyse and explain their own thoughts.
“You can use AI and make your work a lot easier. But your brain is a muscle, metaphorically speaking, and when you stop training it and are not able to communicate, that’s where the danger lies with AI,” she said during a corporate panel session titled “Buang Yang Keruh, Ambil Yang Jernih: AI – A Void of Values?” at the Malaysian Student Leaders’ Summit XX 2026 hosted by the United Kingdom and Eire Council in Kuala Lumpur on July 25.
Recalling an experience with a user who had used AI to generate story ideas, Chin said the user could read AI-generated notes explaining why a story was worthwhile, but struggled to articulate the reasoning independently when asked to put the notes aside.
“The problem isn’t that AI can generate answers. The problem is when people stop questioning those answers and lose the ability to explain their own thinking,” she said.
Chin was among the panellists at the session, alongside RTM director-general Ashwad Ismail and Zetrix AI co-founder Datuk Fadzli Shah.
During the discussion, they explored the growing influence of AI on the workforce, journalism and public discourse, while emphasising the need for media literacy, responsible AI adoption and the preservation of human values as technology becomes embedded in everyday life.
Chin highlighted that Malaysia should place equal, if not greater, emphasis on teaching people how to critically evaluate the information they consume.
She said users must learn to recognise red flags, question the credibility of online content and avoid sharing information they cannot verify.
“You have to focus on media literacy at all levels, across all ages so that they have that trigger that goes off to say, ‘I don’t know if it’s true or not, so I’m not going to share it,’” she said.
Beyond critical thinking, Ashwad stressed that universities must continue producing graduates equipped with human skills that technology cannot replicate.
He said polished AI-generated work means little if graduates cannot communicate effectively or engage meaningfully with others.
“It looks good on paper because your English and your Bahasa Malaysia are perfect.
“But when you start to communicate face to face, there’s a gap,” he said, adding that resilience, adaptability and a positive attitude will become increasingly important as technology continues to evolve.
Echoing this, Chin said AI can generate stories from prompts, but it cannot replace the distinctly human ability to build trust and persuade reluctant interviewees to share their experiences.
“Your ability as a human being to persuade a person to give you that story and share a very personal part of themselves with you is something AI will never be able to replicate.
“AI is never going to give you a heart, and at the end of the day, that’s the one machine that will power you through,” she said.
Asserting that technology itself is neither inherently good nor bad, Ashwad said its impact depends on how people choose to use it and the values guiding its application.
“While people talk about how to advance in terms of technology, it goes back to the fundamental strengths of human beings and human values. And the more human you are, the better,” he said.
