Weaving Trust in the Age of AI: Key Highlights from the 2026 Konvensi Humas Indonesia (KHI)
SURAKARTA — The Indonesian Public Relations Association (PERHUMAS) has successfully concluded the 2026 Indonesian Public Relations Convention (Konvensi Humas Indonesia / KHI), held on 17 -18 OCtober 2026 at The Sunan Hotel Solo, Surakarta, Central Java.
The ASEAN Public Relations Network (APRN) is proud to have supported this significant event, which brought together public relations professionals, government representatives, industry leaders, academics, and emerging communication talents to exchange insights, strengthen professional collaboration, and discuss the future of public relations in Indonesia.
Under the theme “Public Relations as a Driving Force for the Nation: Weaving Trust, Moving Indonesia Forward,” KHI 2026 highlighted the increasingly important role of public relations in building public trust, encouraging meaningful dialogue, and strengthening Indonesia’s reputation amid rapid technological and social developments.
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to transform the communication landscape, the convention reinforced a fundamental message: while technology can amplify communication, trust, ethics, and human understanding remain at the heart of effective public relations.
Artificial Intelligence—The Double-Edged Sword
Opening the convention, PERHUMAS General Chairman Boy Kelana Soebroto talked about the fast emergence of generative AI. Although technology has brought us greater efficiency, it has also greatly increased the production of deep fakes, disinformation, and fake news.
“Algorithms can make a narrative reach millions in seconds, but algorithms cannot always tell what is true, what is fair, and what is responsible,” Boy noted.
Moreover, Nezar Patria, Deputy Minister of Communication and Digital Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia said that people nowadays tend to search for information using AI search engines instead of checking government websites. Thus, the task for contemporary PR is not merely to broaden the scope of their actions but also ensure the depth of their activity.
Building Trust Through Authentic Communication
Beyond technological advancements, KHI 2026 also emphasized the importance of understanding public sentiment and fostering genuine communication between institutions and society.
Bima Arya Sugiarto, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, highlighted the importance of ensuring that government policies and communication strategies respond to the actual needs and concerns of the public.
He encouraged government institutions to look beyond online narratives and avoid automatically dismissing public criticism as the activity of social media buzzers. Instead, institutions should listen carefully, understand the underlying issues, and develop policies that respond meaningfully to public expectations.
This discussion reinforced the importance of public relations as a two-way communication function, where listening, empathy, and responsiveness are just as essential as delivering messages.
Ultimately, effective communication is not simply about shaping public perception, but also about ensuring that organizations demonstrate the values and actions necessary to earn public trust.
Six Strategic Recommendations for the Future of Public Relations
Presented by PERHUMAS Vice Chairman Glory Oyong, the recommendations aim to position public relations professionals as strategic advisers, reputation managers, and guardians of public trust. The six recommendations include Strategic Communication Leadership; Digital Competencies and Ethical AI; Crisis, Risk, and Trust Management; Cross-Cultural Communications & Global Reputation Management; Professional Standardization and Certification; and lastly Communication Impact Measurement.
Celebrating Excellence and Empowering the Next Generation
The event also recognized the industry’s role models via the Anugerah PERHUMAS 2026 and PR Excellence Awards (PREA). One of the highlights of the event was the Pemuda Awards, featuring budding PR professionals. It is noteworthy that senior executives stressed that transferring leadership requires a transfer of values such as integrity.
Through the Anugerah PERHUMAS 2026 and PERHUMAS Public Relations Excellence Awards (PREA) 2026, the association celebrated outstanding contributions to professional development, communication leadership, and impactful public relations practices across various sectors.
Among the distinguished award recipients was Dr. (H.C.) Prita Kemal Gani, MBA., MCIPR, APR, FIPR as the President of ASEAN PR Network (APRN) who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contributions to the development of the public relations profession.
The Path Ahead
As KHI 2026 came to a close, PERHUMAS announced Jakarta as the host city for the Indonesian Public Relations Convention 2027, marking the next chapter in its ongoing efforts to strengthen the profession.
The convention’s discussions reinforced a shared understanding that public relations must continue evolving to address technological disruption, changing public expectations, and increasingly complex communication challenges.
