KUCHING: Journalists must uphold humanity in their work, especially in an era increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), says Datuk Abdullah Saidol.
The Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Corporate Affairs and UKAS) said no matter how advanced technology becomes, it will never be able to replicate core human values such as empathy, longing, and love.
He said that despite AI’s capabilities to process vast information and generate content, it cannot experience the emotional nuances that come with being human such as longing for someone, missing a loved one, or feeling the weight of silence.
“Even when our Premier smiled during his speech yesterday, who knows what he truly felt inside? Maybe he was missing someone. AI won’t be able to understand that.
“We have to defend the value of humanity. Even if AI becomes nearly perfect one day, it will still lack real emotions. It might learn to simulate them, but it can never truly feel,” he said when officiating the closing of the Sarawak Media Conference (SMEC) 2025 here today (Jul 3).
Abdullah urged journalists, media social users and content creators to embed values of compassion, respect, and empathy in their work.
He was referring to the context of Malaysia, or within the beautiful region of Southeast Asia with its diverse tribes, religions, cultures, and food.
“I want to encourage our journalists, reporters, whether certified or not, including Facebookers and TikTokers, to plant the value of humanity in their hearts and souls.
“To distance ourselves from hatred and such things, because that is what will set us apart from whatever technology the future may bring.
“What differentiates us from AI is the value of humanity,” he said.
He then recalled a metaphor once shared with him by the late Pehin Sri Tan Sri Adenan Satem, fondly known as Tok Nan, to illustrate how disconnected people have become in today’s fast-paced world.
“Tok Nan asked me, ‘When’s the last time you brought your kids for a picnic?’ I paused and thought—wow, I can’t even remember,” he said.
He described the simple joy of bringing family and friends to the beach, leaving the phone in a basket, enjoying sandwiches and barbecue, moments he now misses the most.
“Put it this way. Hair may be the same in being black, but hearts are different. And that’s something AI may never truly understand,” he concluded.
