ABSTRACT

The advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly influencing academic activities—particularly research and scholarly publication—necessitating that academics possess the ability to utilize these tools effectively, critically, and ethically. This community service initiative aimed to enhance the understanding and skills of lecturers regarding the use of AI to support academic and research activities, while simultaneously raising awareness about information verification, digital security, academic integrity, and the ethics of AI usage. The program engaged lecturers and academics from the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences at Mulawarman University, specifically those from the Communication Studies program and related fields. The activity took place at the Faculty’s Postgraduate Building, featuring a program that combined training with workshops, interactive discussions, demonstrations, and simulations of AI tools. Evaluation was conducted through pre- and post-tests, as well as observations and reflective discussions. Results from the 11 participants with paired pre- and post-test data showed that the average level of understanding rose from 32.58% prior to the training to 71.97% afterward—an increase of 39.39 percentage points. Ten out of the 11 participants demonstrated improved understanding. The most significant gains were observed in areas such as using AI for literature reviews and research, understanding AI limitations and digital security, and recognizing misinformation and disinformation. Challenges encountered during the activity included varying levels of technical proficiency among participants, time constraints, and internet connectivity issues. These findings indicate that practice-based training can effectively enhance academics' understanding of how to utilize AI critically, ethically, and responsibly within the academic environment.