KUCHING: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) must be prepared to face the challenges of the digital era in publishing and literature by leveraging on artificial intelligence (AI) technology.
DBP Board Member Datuk Dr Jeniri Amir said that DBP staff must utilise AI, as this technology is increasingly influencing daily life.
“DBP staff must not only stay informed about current societal issues but also understand matters related to their responsibilities, particularly in addressing language, literature and intellectual discourse,” he said.
He said this in his speech during DBP’s Monthly Assembly at the DBP building today.
Dr Jeniri also highlighted that by 2030, AI has the potential to contribute US$69 trillion (RM306 trillion) to the global economy and 26 per cent to the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), making it a crucial factor to consider in the publishing industry.
He then pointed out that, in the context of digital-era challenges, one is the growing shift from physical reading materials to digital formats.
“We need to ask ourselves – how many people still read books, newspapers and magazines in physical form?
“As knowledge creators and catalysts, it is our responsibility to generate new knowledge and publish new books,” he explained.
In line with this, he urged DBP staff to cultivate a reading culture within the organisation to strengthen knowledge as a foundation for carrying out their duties.
“As champions of literature and languages, we must first read extensively to spread knowledge to society so that DBP staff and scholars are respected by others,” he added.
Dr Jeniri expressed his hope that DBP will continue its legacy as a highly regarded centre of knowledge.
“I hope DBP will remain a respected institution and a primary reference source for academics and the public in the fields of language, literature, culture, as well as in the publishing of books, newspapers and magazines,” he stated.
