This article was published in The Citizen Newspaper, Tanzania, on Jan. 21, 2025.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a global phenomenon at the moment, and one of its kind as it earns relevance and ‘helping-hand context’ in almost every field of human affairs. In its diversity, AI speeds up human productivity and in most cases improves efficiency. While there are undeniably negative effects of AI, learning the benefits and possibilities thereof will do us more good.
AI helps to achieve much when utilized by a person who knows what to do with its tools. It does not achieve much on its own, as it is merely a tool which has to be utilized to attain the purpose thought before by humans. At least this is the case with regular AI tools which help to gather knowledge, digital designs, etc. Indeed, there is more to AI than editing pictures, and writing essays.
As artificial intelligence can aggregate knowledge so well, it is a free opportunity for young people to test the waters in the fields of their aspiration, which they either did not have a chance to explore at all, or did not learn so well in school. AI allows a fair share of this knowledge for free, guaranteeing a transformation of digital literacy and general knowledge of the people after a while, if consistently used and engaged in actual life.
Teachers, farmers, drivers, mechanics, scientists, medical practitioners, artists, musicians, chefs, etc. can all use AI. The goal is not to let AI do the work for us, but to maximize its possibilities in terms of helping us to learn, to fact-check, to look at a wider picture, and to give more life to our ideas.
Think of the days when one would need to read very scarce books to learn certain things. It is no longer the same! All it takes is to learn how to use AI tools. Skills for communication and languages, creativity and problem solving, financial literacy, mental wellness, emotional intelligence, productivity, time management, management of resources, etc. can be learnt and aided by AI tools, most of which are accessible for free.
One thing to be careful with is the stigma that is being attached to AI as it is of no use at all, unaware that there are even more serious tasks in global affairs that are being managed by AI systems. AI creates more room for self-improvement and new ways to fill in idle times by learning one or two things in an easier way.
For example skills in money management and keeping accounts are difficult to acquire, as they are mostly accessible through specialized higher education. Meanwhile these skills are important even amongst regular business persons. With specialized easy-to-use AI tools it is possible even for people who are not very educated to manage their finances properly by themselves.
Amidst widespread unemployment in the country, young people can begin to brainstorm on new ways to use AI systems to solve the enduring problems of our society. While there are no salary jobs available, there are still many problems to be solved, which make for a better engagement than staying idle.
Insofar as there is a will to bring growth and change, anyone can utilize the AI systems in the context of what they like or want to do, from insights on agriculture, to organizing social events and workshops, and even to technical skills.
On one hand, the integration of AI also drives the interests of young people into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) tracks. It is undeniable that these are crucial subjects that solve most of the global problems today. The more our young people get excited to pursue science in its variety (STEM), the more possibilities of holistic growth we have as society.
It is also important for the government to create more and more opportunities for young people to freely engage in solving societal problems through their creativity and innovativeness. As most things are done through the internet, widening the coverage and subsidizing the cost of the internet will do so much good. We also need a lot of advocacy on safe, positive, productive, and impactful use of the internet among young people.
To end with, most young people are excited about digital jobs. Care needs to be taken as there is a wide dark side of this digital age which exploits young people who are desperate for money, forcing them to do things they would rather not choose to do. Not every fun and well-paying job is a good job! The so called ‘easy money’ channels have their risky ends open for young people from underdeveloped countries, most of whom will not be protected in event of harm arising from their engagements in the same.
