African Youth, Teens What They Need to Know about AI to Prepare for Future Careers

African Youth, Teens What They Need to Know
about AI to Prepare for Future Careers
William Jackson, MAT, CEO MetaverseWP &
My Quest To Teach. Metaverse Education Program
Director and Education Technology Program
Director for One Africa Forum

Part 1 As the world continues to evolve at a remarkable
pace with AI, the future of work is becoming increasingly
blended with technological changes and ecosystems.
African youth and teens are understanding and mastering
digital tools like ChatGPT and PI.ai is not just an option but
a necessity to compete in global job markets and as business
owners and entrepreneurs. These tools offer a wealth of
digital innovation and imagination, from enhancing learning
to opening doors to new career paths. The African Union
recognizes this potential, emphasizing that “the (African)
continent’s future lies in the hands of its digitally savvy youth.”

The importance of digital literacy goes beyond basic computer
skills (which are still lacking in many African communities).
It encompasses the ability to understand, apply, and interact
with digital tools and platforms effectively to have outcomes
that are empowering to the African continent.
For African youth and teens, acquiring these skills is crucial.
The African Union has highlighted that “investing in digital
skills for youth is pivotal for Africa’s growth and competitiveness.”
By embracing tools like ChatGPT and PI.ai, young Africans
can position themselves at the forefront of technological
innovation. Instead of African companies looking at foreign
investments and foreign workers, there are a growing
number of African youth, teens and young adults that
should be hired not foreigners.

Re-investments into communities is key to recycle African
monies in support of education, economics and commerce.
Where foreign companies neither care nor have any
intentions of empowering African youth, teens and young
adults. Small companies like MetaverseWP
(https://metaversewp.com/destination) have partnered
with Real Dads Network (https://www.realdadsnetwork.org/)
to provide remote trainings of tech skills.

Since 2017 MetaverseWP and My Quest To Teach have
sponsored youth, teens, young adults and even educators
across Africa to attend technology conferences. These
sponsorships have helped over 600 to gain valuable skills.

Understanding ChatGPT and PI.ai, developed by companies
to empower the use of AI, is a language model capable of
generating human-like text and voice engagements based
on given prompts. It can assist with tasks such as writing,
research, and even customer service.

Students in Nigeria, those attending Clever Minds Academy https://tinyurl.com/33a5m5e8 , ChatGPT can be a valuable
resource for generating ideas, drafting essays, and improving
language skills and participating in hands-on, project
learning models.

These models are taught by William and Aida Jackson in
lessons to the elementary students and with students
with Edpassare https://edpassare.com/ based in Nigeria.
PI.ai, or Personal Intelligence AI, refers to a new generation
of AI tools designed to assist individuals in personalizing
their digital interactions. These tools can learn from user
behavior to provide customized recommendations and
support. For African youth and teens, PI.ai can enhance
learning experiences by adapting to individual needs
and preferences,

making education more engaging and effective. African
youth and teens are experiencing increased learning
chances as never before to prepare them for their future.
Practical learning applications for African youth and
teens are educational enhancements to level the playing
fields for increased interaction and empowerment.

AI can serve as a virtual tutor, providing explanations,
answering questions, and offering feedback on
assignments in English and multiple African languages.
PI can create personalized learning plans, ensuring
that each student receives the support they need to
succeed and also speak in a language not
English to empower students.

Using African languages that have the ability to educate,
inspire and empower African youth and teens, quotes
from writer Ngugi, wa Thiong’o “African languages are
not just means of communication; they are also
repositories of a people’s history and culture.”

The African Union has been vocal about the significance
of digital skills for the continent’s future. In a statement,
emphasized that “Africa’s youth are its greatest asset
and equipping them with digital skills will unlock
unprecedented opportunities for growth and
development.” They further highlighted that “the
integration of AI in education and business will
empower young Africans to lead in the digital economy.”

As Africa grows in its influence and imagination of how
AI can provide needed educational changes in the
ecosystems, African youth and teens will be prepared
to compete and even
collaborate with youth and teens internationally.

Ngugi wa Thiong’o, a renowned Kenyan writer, academic,
and historian has emphasized the significance of African
languages in preserving the continent’s history and
culture. What does this have to do with AI. AI has the
ability to preserve African history, African languages
and African culture. There are still those that will seek
to destroy all that is African. Technology can help
preserve African history and culture for the future
so Africans will not, nor cannot forget the attempts
of colonization and the almost destruction of culture,
language, relationships, and heritage.

Ngugi, “Language carries culture, and culture carries,
particularly through orature and literature, the entire
body of values by which we come to perceive
ourselves and our place in the world.” Applying AI
allows African voices, intellect, teaching, storytelling,
culture to be preserved.

The history of the world arguably started in Africa,
the preservation has tremendous importance
and value. Tech can help it travel through time
and digital space and AI can carry it to the near
and distance future for generations.