Experts in emerging technologies have emphasized the need for upskilling and reskilling in artificial intelligence (AI) within the academic sector in Africa. This call to action arises as the AI revolution gains momentum, presenting significant opportunities to enhance digital economies, particularly in the Global South.
At the recent Deep Tech Summit in Benguerir, Morocco, Khalid Badou, who serves as Chief of Staff and Director of Institutional Affairs at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), highlighted the importance of adopting and adapting AI to cater to the needs of the educational sector. He stressed the necessity of establishing appropriate policies and regulations to ensure the ethical application of these technologies.
Badou noted that UM6P has distinguished itself as the first university on the continent to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and it is already witnessing the positive effects of leveraging this tool, which has previously raised concerns about its disruptive potential in education.
He remarked that while UM6P is leading in this initiative, there exists a considerable opportunity for the broader African education sector to capitalize on the benefits of AI. Badou stated, “Across the world, everyone is starting from the same point; everyone is discovering what AI can do, how to manage it, and trying to understand how it will impact our daily lives—in industry, in universities, and beyond.”
The summit, themed “Redefining Progress: How AI is Transforming Innovation in Deep Tech,” aimed to foster collaborative AI experiences through brainstorming and experimentation with new concepts.
Badou further asserted that deep tech holds the promise of driving significant socio-economic development in Africa across various sectors like health, fintech, and agriculture. He urged that Africa should take the initiative in formulating its own regulatory framework for AI, rather than waiting for external standards to be established.
Industry experts and analysts also pointed out that given the continent’s young and digitally adept population, AI could be as transformative for Africa as investments in infrastructure, particularly in critical areas such as food security and healthcare.ealthcare.
Source: GITFiConline.com , Contributed by africanews