The Doctoral Program in Technology and Vocational Education (PTK) held an international webinar titled “AI Agents as Intelligent Partners: Opportunities, Limitations, and Ethics in Digital Learning” on Saturday, September 12. Attended by 61 participants, the webinar explored the development of AI agents and their potential to serve as partners in the learning process.

The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Siswantoyo, M.Kes., AIFO. In his remarks, he welcomed the webinar’s focus on developments in AI agents for learning and its efforts to create a space for discussion on the opportunities, limitations, and ethical considerations of using AI in education.

The event continued with a presentation session moderated by Dr. Yoga Syahria.

The first speaker, Prof. Dr. Putu Sudira, M.P., presented “The New Era of AI Agents in Future TVET, Crucial Challenges in Strengthening the TVET System for the Future Workforce.”

The second speaker, Adi Wijaya, a Google Cloud Asia Consultant, discussed practical applications of AI agents and demonstrated how they can be used. One example highlighted how AI can help students prepare for the IELTS test.

The discussion session was interactive, with participants raising questions about AI applications for non-IT users, 3D design, mental health, and the role of humans as AI continues to advance.

The discussion emphasized that AI still has limitations and that users need to understand the boundaries of its capabilities. Rather than relying on AI as the primary source of solutions, users should treat it as a partner for discussion and assistance with their work.

Questions about the use of AI in learning also highlighted the relationship between teachers, students, and AI. Collaboration among all three was considered a more appropriate approach than using AI as a replacement for teachers. Teachers and students therefore continue to play essential roles in critical thinking, decision-making, and evaluating AI-generated results.

The webinar also addressed the risk of AI dependency, particularly because excessive use may reduce opportunities for individuals to develop independent problem-solving skills. For this reason, advances in AI need to be approached critically, with the technology used in a balanced and proportionate manner.

Through this webinar, participants were encouraged to recognize that the future of learning is not simply about using AI as a tool, but about developing dynamic, ethical, and responsible forms of collaboration between humans and AI. (LS)