Daphne Wong-a-Foe shared insights on the promotion and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) technology in the educational sector in Indonesia at the PRISB USK Research Seminar #10 on technology and culture. As a PhD candidate at Leiden University, she is conducting research on the perspectives and practices of Indonesian Muslims towards AI in their daily lives.

Indonesia, with an 87.2% Muslim population, provides a unique context for her research. Daphne is particularly interested in understanding how AI can support Muslim practices, such as using a phone as a compass to determine the direction of the Ka’ba or to automatically schedule prayer times, even when outside Indonesia. Additionally, AI can also facilitate reading and translation of Al-Qur’an through smartphone applications.

Daphne’s research will focus on Aceh, a region with distinctive cultural and religious practices, to investigate how AI is being utilized in various aspects of Acehnese Muslim life, including education, entertainment, and government services. By examining these practices, Daphne aims to contribute to the development of more culturally relevant and accessible AI technology.