An Information Technology expert and data analyst, Mr. Nelson Onyeji, has urged young people to stay competitive in this era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), by focusing on “human-centric skills.”
Onyeji said this in an interview with the News reporters in Lagos on Wednesday.
He defined human-centric skills as soft skills, which are difficult or quite impossible for AI to replicate such as complex emotional intelligence, leadership, ethical decision making, human judgement and high level strategy.
According to him: “You don’t need to be a software engineer, but you must be AI-fluent. Learn how to use AI tools to improve your specific field.”
On the possibility of Artificial intelligence taking over people’s jobs, Onyeji said that AI would change jobs rather than eliminate them completely.
He noted that historically while technology destroyed specific tasks, it rarely destroyed the entire job function, instead it shifted the focus.
“For instance, AI can write basic codes but can’t define the business strategy for that software; it can draft a report but can’t take accountability for the outcomes of that report,” the data analyst said.
He stressed that the key to harnessing AI effectively was to be a hybrid worker: someone who used AI as a tool to make jobs easier, rather than being replaced by a machine.
“The greatest risk is not AI taking over, rather a person who uses AI taking the job of a person who does not,” he added.
Onyeji also noted the multifaceted impact of Artificial intelligence in Nigeria, saying that the informal sector of the economy may face challenges due to AI-driven automation.
He said that, if AI-driven automation led to cheaper imports of more efficient large scale manufacturing, traditional small scale artisans or manual labourers may face economic pressure.
Also speaking in a separate interview with the reporters, Mrs Funmilola Omojola, a Fellow of the Nigerian Computer Society and Founder/ Chief Executive, Rise Up & Sparkle Initiative, said that AI presented opportunities for innovation, entrepreneurship and new career paths
Omojola, however, noted that concerns remained regarding the accessibility and affordability of AI-related training and the potential impact of unemployment, especially among young people.
She noted that, because these skills are sometimes expensive to acquire and AI was still in the teething phase, especially in a place like Nigeria, employers would have to sponsor their employees on training.
“I urge youths to get AI skills and additionally to take advantage of free AI courses online.
“Those with digital skills are automatically more attractive to employers because they have increased employability which consequently translates to eligibility of higher earnings in the workplace as opposed to those without AI skills.
“Nigerian youths are now exploring this path to enable them compete effectively and increase their chances of employability,” Omojola stressed.
She added that in spite of the effectiveness of AI, human effort was still required to ensure balance in the workplace as not all organisations could automate their processes completely.