Addressing an audience of global scholars and thought leaders at the Royal Conference on “Scientific Tradition in Islamic Civilisation: Resources, Potentials and Challenges” at the Islamic Civilisation Centre of Uzbekistan, the Vice Chancellor opened by framing the current era as a “turning point for our civilisation.” He highlighted a growing tension between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Natural Intelligence (NI), noting that the threat extends far beyond the economy.

Citing the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, he pointed out that while technology will create 170 million roles, it will displace 92 million others by 2030. To combat this, he argued that technical upskilling is insufficient.

“I propose that our response must go beyond technical upskilling,” the Vice Chancellor asserted. “We must address the ‘Crisis of Displacement’ by reclaiming our most profound intellectual resource: the framework of adab and the primacy of the human spirit.”

The Vice Chancellor’s focus on “displacement” is not merely economic; it is ontological. By citing the World Economic Forum, he grounds his spiritual argument in cold, empirical data. The subtext here is clear: if we compete with AI solely on the basis of productivity and calculation, humanity will lose. The “displacement” he fears is the loss of our role as moral agents. By prioritising adab, the Vice Chancellor suggests that our value lies not in what we do, but in the wisdom with which we do it.

Central to the presentation was the concept of adab, as defined by the late Tan Sri Prof. Syed Muhammad Naquib al-Attas. The Vice Chancellor described adab as the “recognition and acknowledgment of the right and proper place of things,” repositioning it as a vital tool for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

He went on to define adab as the “Meta-Algorithm,” a discipline ensuring that efficiency never supersedes human dignity. At UTM, this philosophy translates into a pursuit of Burhan—clear and convincing proof that technological progress can serve the human spirit.

“At UTM, we distinguish between Beneficial Knowledge, that which contributes to the affirmation of Divine Unity (Tawhid) and Justice (Shariah), and unbeneficial knowledge that undermines the human microcosm,” he explained.

Labeling adab as a “Meta-Algorithm” is a masterstroke of modernising classical terminology. In computer science, an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for calculations; by elevating adab to a “Meta-Algorithm,” the Vice Chancellor positions ethics as the operating system upon which all other software must run. This addresses a critical gap in current AI development: the “alignment problem.” While Silicon Valley struggles to align AI with human values, the Vice Chancellor argues that those values must first be anchored in a metaphysical understanding of Truth and Justice.

While acknowledging the speed and pattern-recognition capabilities of AI, the Vice Chancellor was firm regarding the machine’s inherent limitations. He argued that AI lacks the moral conscience, intuition, and capacity for meaning that are unique to the human soul.

“AI may emulate our ‘internal senses’, such as formal representation, memory, and estimation but it can never cross the threshold into true understanding, self-awareness, or the ability to make ethical judgments anchored in values.”

This section of the speech challenges the “Transhumanist” narrative, the idea that humans are simply biological computers that can be upgraded. The Vice Chancellor draws a sharp line between information processing and understanding. From an analytical perspective, this is a vital distinction: a machine can process the data of a sunset, but it cannot “witness” the beauty of one. By protecting “Natural Intelligence,” UTM is positioning itself as a guardian of the qualities that make us fundamentally human.

The Vice Chancellor also showcased how these values are being operationalised at UTM. With the university now ranked in the Top 10% globally in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, he attributed this success to a commitment to Ihsan (excellence) and the institutional motto, “Kerana Tuhan Untuk Manusia” (In the Name of God for Mankind).

This philosophy led to the establishment of Malaysia’s first Faculty of Artificial Intelligence, which features an “Adab-Centric Design” at its core.

“We are training a new generation of engineers who understand that while 39% of their technical skills may be outdated by 2030, human qualities, ethics, resilience, and a sense of moral purpose, are evergreen,” he noted.

The founding of the Faculty of AI with an “Adab-Centric” curriculum is perhaps the most practical application of this speech. It shifts the educational paradigm from “competency-based” to “character-based.” In a world where technical skills have a shorter shelf-life than ever before, the Vice Chancellor’s focus on “evergreen” human qualities is a pragmatic strategy for long-term career resilience.

The Delegates at the Parallel Session

Concluding his address, the Vice Chancellor urged the Ummah and the scientific community to ensure that the future is led by a “science that has a soul.” He reminded the audience that as intelligence becomes more artificial, human conduct must become more authentic.

“The end of education is to produce a good man, for a good man will inevitably be a good citizen,” he said, quoting Prof. al-Attas. “Let us ensure our scientific legacy is written not just in code, but in the preservation of the human essence.”

The closing of the speech serves as a manifesto for the modern university. The Vice Chancellor’s ultimate message is that progress is not measured by the sophistication of our tools, but by the goodness of the people who use them. By refusing to separate the “machine from the Maker,” he provides a blueprint for a future where technology and spirituality are not in conflict, but in harmony.