The 4th International Conference on Communication in Scientific Inquiry (CSI) convened on December 3-4, 2024, at the Borneo Cultures Museum in Kuching, Sarawak, under the theme “The AI Paradigm Shift: Towards Education and Communication Excellence.” This annual event, organized by Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) in collaboration with Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS), brought together academics and professionals to discuss the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on education and communication.
The conference commenced with an opening address by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mohammad Rezal Hamzah, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Communication at UniMAP. He emphasized the critical role of AI in reshaping educational methodologies and communication strategies, highlighting the necessity for academic institutions to adapt to these technological advancements.
A highlight of the event was the keynote speech by Associate Professor Dr. Rudianto, M.Si, Vice-Rector III of UMSU, titled “AI in Personal Communication.” Dr. Rudianto discussed the dual-edged nature of AI in personal interactions, noting that while AI enhances accessibility and efficiency—such as through automated sign language translation—it may also diminish emotional depth and interpersonal skills. He advocated for a balanced integration of AI that preserves the richness of human connections.In addition to keynote sessions, the conference featured workshops aimed at enhancing practical skills among participants. Dr. Ribut Priadi, Head of Public Relations and Protocol at UMSU, led a workshop on “Writing Press Releases for University Public Relations in the Digital Era.” This session focused on equipping university PR professionals with the competencies needed to effectively disseminate information and support their institutions’ missions in a rapidly evolving digital
landscape.
The CSI 2024 conference underscored the importance of international collaboration in addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in education and communication. By providing a platform for sharing research and best practices, the event contributed to the ongoing discourse on how AI can be harnessed to achieve excellence in these fields.
