Deputy Speaker of Parliament Thomas Tayebwa has called on students to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for innovation to prioritise its use in academics, warning them of its potential dangers if misused.
Tayebwa made these remarks while officiating at the 15th Higher Education Institutions Exhibition on AI, held at Mbarara District headquarters in Kamukuzi Division. He highlighted growing concerns about AI misuse, citing global incidents as cautionary examples.
“There have been cases where AI has been used to manipulate political outcomes. For instance, in the 2020 U.S. elections, a company allegedly used Facebook data to analyse 5,000 character traits of users, tailoring advertisements to influence public opinion against the government in power,” Tayebwa stated.
He also referenced an alarming case in the UK, where Singh Jaswant, convicted for attempting to harm the Queen in 2023, was reportedly influenced by an AI-generated avatar named Sarai, with whom he had exchanged over 5,000 messages.
“What you consume matters. AI should be harnessed to transform lives positively through education. Asking the wrong questions can set one on a dangerous path,” Tayebwa cautioned.
Despite these concerns, he commended the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) for organising the exhibition, emphasising the role of AI in revolutionising the education sector.
“I have witnessed impressive innovations here that can transform how we learn, teach, and conduct research. AI has immense potential in areas like disease diagnosis and early detection of non-communicable diseases such as cancer,” he remarked.
During the exhibition, Tayebwa tested a model bike developed by students. He also observed an AI-assisted irrigation system presented by Ndejje University, which autonomously monitors soil moisture levels to optimise irrigation, reducing labour costs and preventing over- or under-watering.
At the Uganda Martyrs University booth, he was introduced to an AI-powered enrolment analysis programme designed to track trends across academic disciplines and address issues like gender inequality in education.
NCHE Executive Director Prof. Mary Okwakol emphasised the significance of the annual exhibition, noting that it serves as a platform for disseminating information on higher education and fostering engagement among students, educators, and policymakers.
“We have been engaging stakeholders in discussions since Monday, focusing on the role of AI in shaping the future of education,” Okwakol said.
She urged the government to establish policies to guide AI implementation in education and ensure cost-effective integration, enabling students to develop skills relevant to the job market.
