Eli International School board chairman cautions against unchecked use of AI among children

The Board Chairman of Eli International School, Tsito-Awudome and Sokode Gbogame, Pastor Joshua Dzidzornu, has called for strict guidance in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) among children, warning that its uncontrolled adoption could undermine human reasoning and expose society to serious risks.

He described AI as a human innovation with the potential to influence the minds and intellectual development of young people, insisting that its application must be carefully managed to prevent it from weakening their ability to think independently.

Pastor Dzidzornu made the remarks during the 30th anniversary celebration of Eli International School at Tsito-Awudome in the Ho West District of the Volta Region on Saturday.

He urged authorities to involve technology experts in developing appropriate guidelines for the use of AI, cautioning that allowing the technology to operate without proper oversight could eventually give one individual enormous control over humanity, a situation he described as suicidal for the human community.

He also raised concerns about the potential threat AI poses to personal privacy, warning that without adequate safeguards, conversations held in the privacy of one's bedroom could become accessible to people across the world.

Although he acknowledged the benefits of AI, the board chairman stressed that society must focus on harnessing its positive applications while putting measures in place to prevent its misuse.

Reflecting on changes in learning methods, Pastor Dzidzornu said people previously relied on their intellectual abilities to solve problems, but many learners now turn to computers for answers to almost every subject.

He expressed concern that the growing dependence on technology could weaken students' ability to reason and develop their intellectual capabilities.

He therefore called on schools to educate children on the responsible use of computers and AI, urging teachers to help learners distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate applications of the technology.

He stressed that teachers must first understand how AI works and the principles guiding its use before introducing it to students, adding that children should not accept everything presented by the technology without questioning or analysing it.

Pastor Dzidzornu maintained that learners must be able to assess information generated by AI, process it critically and make independent decisions on whether to accept or reject it.

He emphasised that AI should serve as a tool to enhance education and learning rather than replace the human capacity to think.