International Youth Day: Technology experts urge ethical AI use and digital innovation

As artificial intelligence and digital technologies become more widely used in education, young people are being encouraged to prioritise ethical practices when using these tools.

Software engineer Louis Marie Ayariga emphasised that the ethical use of AI and digital resources is crucial for developing the relevant skills needed in today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape.

Speaking to Asaase News he said, “By adhering to these ethical standards, students can enhance their learning experience and also better prepare themselves for the demands of the future workforce.”

International Youth Day is observed annually on 12 August which serves as an opportunity for governments and other non-state actors to draw attention to youth issues worldwide.

The theme for this year’s celebration is “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development.”

According to the United Nations, young people are leading the charge in digital adoption and innovation, with three-quarters of those aged 15 to 24 using the internet in 2022, a rate higher than other age groups. However, disparities persist, particularly in low-income countries and among young women, who often have less access to the internet and digital skills compared to their male counterparts.

Software engineer Ayariga urged the strategic use of technological tools. “We are not saying eliminate the use of A.I. We are saying use it as a tool to augment your work. It is supposed to help you do your work and not do the entire work for you,” he said.

To bridge the gap in the use and creation of technological tools, Ayariga spoke about the need for the creation of a tech hub in the Upper East Region.

“As techies, we have been able to get tech here because we have been able to work together. One of the things that has really helped out is tech hubs because they offer trainings and offer people the platforms to network. We don’t have a lot of those places here [in the Upper East Region]. If you have spaces where people can come and talk or work on their projects, you have a situation where other innovations would come in.”

The director of the GhanaThink Foundation, Ato-Ulzen Appiah, urged young content creators to focus on the creation of educational content that helps other young people develop and become better.

“We need to leverage X, Facebook, TikTok and others as social communication tools. We need to ask ourselves, what kind of content can we create that people would enjoy and also let them learn and help them pursue their ambitions. We also need to focus on content that is more educational and focused on training as well,” he said.

The CEO of Heritage Baskets, a leading basket-making company in the Upper East Region, charged young people to change their attitudes towards work and incorporate technology in their business activities.

Reporting by Mark Smith in the Upper East Region

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