VP Gibran Pushes Pesantren Students' AI–Robotics Innovation

RRI.CO.ID, Tasikmalaya – Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, encouraged Islamic boarding school students (santri) to master artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics during his West Java visit. He expects the students to have strong moral values, while also keeping up with the times.

Santris of Pondok Pesantren (Islamic Boarding School) Cipasung in Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java, were seen gathering enthusiastically as Indonesia’s Vice President, Gibran Rakabuming Raka, arrived at the pesantren on Tuesday, 20 January 2026. They greeted Gibran and showed their technological innovations.

As part of Gibran's series of visits to the regency, he took time to observe presentations of students’ AI and robotics projects. He highlighted an AI-based system capable of detecting Quran recitation accuracy, as well as identifying job vacancy opportunities.

"As you may have seen earlier, the AI can detect whether the pronunciation is correct or not, and then correct it independently. So this is very, very helpful. It helps the students and teachers, it helps students learn independently outside of class hours," he said, as quoted from a video release from the country's Vice Presidential Secretariat.

A group of students (wearing green suit) showcasing AI-based StartJap project to the Indonesia's Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka (right) at Pondok Pesantren Cipasung, Tasikmalaya Regency, West Java on Tuesday, 20 January 2026. (Photo:YouTube/Indonesian Vice Presidential Secretariat)

He even praised an AI-based system that can identify job vacancy opportunities abroad. According to the secretariat video, the santri-made system is called StartJap.

"There was also an AI innovation that can detect job vacancies in Japan. I think it's a truly extraordinary innovation," he said.

Voice of Indonesia research found that StartJap combines machine learning with Simple Additive Weighting (SAW), a simple decision-making analysis method. StartJap claimed it can show intern vacancies data provided by the Japanese government.

On the occasion, Gibran said he has been encouraging school students to be introduced to AI, as he has done during previous visits to schools. In his view, Indonesian youth must keep up with the times, including santri.

"At several pesantrens I’ve visited, I always try to introduce AI. And this might be the first time there’s robotics, we’re teaching robotics in pesantren," he said.

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According to the Vice President, pesantren hold a strategic position in preparing young people who are morally and spiritually strong. However, he hopes pesantrens can also prepare competent generations to face future challenges.

"I believe that santri have good morals and are skilled in religious studies, but this must also be accompanied by knowledge that is adaptive, innovative, and in line with the times," Gibran said.

This month, Cipasung Boarding School has partnered with an American technology giant, Microsoft, and the All-Indonesia Robotics Association (PRSI) to hold AI and robotics training, respectively. Previously, in November, Gibran proposed introducing coding and AI lessons in Indonesian schools to help produce future experts in these fields.

Having been established in 1931, Cipasung is one of the well-known Islamic educational institutions in Tasikmalaya. The traditionalist Islamic pesantren currently operates various educational units, from preschool to university.