UNITED Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Ayodele Odusola has called on locals to collectively decide how they can harness artificial intelligence (AI) to improve their lives.
Addressing delegates during the launch of the UNDP 2025 Human Development Report in Harare yesterday, Odusola said there was need to stay away from techno-deterministic narratives about AI. The report is titled: People and Possibilities in the Age of AI.
“We must be mindful of its pitfalls and the risks it poses to people, societies and the planet,” Odusola said.
“This ranges from threats to data privacy, to the spread of fake news and misinformation, to impacts on mental health — especially among the youth — to the significant energy requirements of AI computation in a world already grappling with a complex energy transition,”
Information Communication Technology (ICT) minister Tatenda Mavetera echoed similar sentiments.
“This is more than a report, it is a timely call to action, coming at a time when the world is dealing with a lot of rapid change in areas which include climate, health and conflict,” Mavetera said.
“The report is a call to choose a future where digital transformation is not a force of exclusion, but a tool for empowerment. Where technology is not simply adopted, but shaped by our values and aspirations.”
Mavetera said Zimbabwe stood at a pivotal juncture in its digital journey.
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“We are implementing the National Development Strategy 1, building towards Vision 2030, a prosperous and empowered upper-middle-income society. At the heart of this vision lies innovation, inclusion and sustainable transformation,” she said.
