AI literacy needed

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The University of Technology’s decision to introduce a Bachelor of Science in Applied Artificial Intelligence is a welcome and necessary development. Jamaica will need AI engineers, researchers, and specialists, if it is to compete in an increasingly digital world.

However, producing AI specialists is only part of the equation.

The larger opportunity lies in helping ordinary Jamaicans use artificial intelligence effectively in their daily lives and work. Whether we realise it or not, many of us already use AI to draft emails, summarise documents, analyze information, organise ideas, and improve the quality of our work. Like the calculator before it, AI is not a replacement for human thinking but a tool that can make people more productive.

That is where Jamaica’s greatest opportunity lies.

The Government has repeatedly spoken about improving national productivity. The responsible use of artificial intelligence is highly relevant to that goal. It can reduce the time spent on repetitive administrative tasks, help businesses operate more efficiently, support better decision-making, and allow workers to focus on activities that require judgement, creativity, and human interaction.

At the same time, concerns about privacy, bias, misinformation, and overreliance deserve serious attention. Yet, these concerns strengthen, rather than weaken, the case for AI literacy. The best response to a powerful technology is not avoidance, but education. People must understand how to use AI responsibly, ethically, and critically.

This is not an argument for replacing people. It is an argument for empowering them.

Just as digital literacy became an essential skill over the past two decades, AI literacy is rapidly becoming a key workplace competency. An accountant can use AI to analyze data more efficiently. A teacher can use it to prepare learning materials. A farmer can use it to interpret data and improve yields. A small business owner can use it to strengthen customer service and marketing.

The University of Technology’s new degree should therefore be seen as a pivotal step. Jamaica needs specialists to build AI systems, but it also needs a workforce capable of using those systems productively and responsibly.

Our ambition should extend beyond producing AI experts. It should be to create a nation of capable AI users who understand that technology alone does not improve productivity. Productivity improves when skilled people know how to use technology intelligently.

That is the opportunity now before us.

Sujae Boswell