Imagine a world where computers can think, learn, and make decisions like humans. Sounds like something from a Science Fiction movie, right? Wrong! This is what is happening right now in 2023, with Artificial Intelligence also known as AI.

If you have never heard of AI, don’t worry, you’re not alone. My young sister-in-law, Noku, who is quite tech-savvy, admitted that she is late to the party and doesn’t know that much about AI but from her understanding, “AI is information that has been gathered over the years that we can use to make our lives swifter and more efficient”. Noku is right but there is so much more to it, which I am keen to explore with you.

Instead of ME telling you about AI, why don’t we ask AI itself? I asked ChatGPT – a new AI form that is becoming highly popular – a few questions.

Me: Hi ChatGPT, how would you describe AI to a young South African?

Me: Creating? No way, can you write me a suspenseful three-line short story based in Gugulethu in Cape Town with a character called Xola?

AI Answer: In the heart of Gugulethu, Xola, a determined young adventurer, stumbled upon a weathered journal buried beneath the Jacaranda tree, promising clues to an age-old legend. With the sun setting over Table Mountain, Xola’s journey to unlock the secrets within had just begun, and the township held its breath in anticipation of what mysteries she’d unveil.

Okay, it’s me again, Jackie (the human) for a while there we got lost in the world of AI, right? You would honestly think that you were talking to another person. This is part of the reason why the world is so divided between people who love AI and those who are against AI.

Well, as a South African youth, how can you use AI as your superpower?

– it offers a great chance for skills development and employment opportunities. If you understand AI and its applications, you will be valuable in the evolving job market.
– Entrepreneurial opportunities that may have not been accessible before are at your fingertips with AI, such as content creation to sell (with AI-created stories and art, etc).
– AI tools like ChatGPT can provide accurate personalised feedback on CVs, cover letters, and interview questions and can help you stand out when you apply for a job.
– AI technologies can connect you with the global community, facilitating cross-cultural communication and education.

Why some people are afraid of AI:

– There is a fear of job loss if companies start using AI tools instead of humans. This is already happening in many industries like writing and accounting. South Africa has started introducing self-checkout like in a Shoprite store in Cape Town which no longer uses cashiers.
– It’s an invasion of privacy. AI knows a lot about us and it’s kind of creepy.
– There is already a gap between the rich and the poor in SA, not all poor people will have access to AI tools, which will increase their disadvantage.
– It is uncomfortable giving so much power to the unknown, it can feel like we are creating a technological ‘god’ who decides how humans should do things.
– If robots are doing things on their own, what if they turn on us and decide to cause harm?

We already experienced the use of AI on dating sites like Tinder, where an algorithm chooses which people we see on the app. What if AI goes as far as choosing who we should date and marry!? There are still so many questions that are unanswered but what we know for sure, is Artificial Intelligence is here and it’s only going to get bigger.
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Tell us: in this blog, I did not take sides. I would like you to decide for yourself, is AI good or is it something to be feared?