While it is true that youth in most countries of the world must contend with the unavailability of jobs, the voices that implore the young people to empower themselves are multiplying. This week, another powerful voice made a passionate appeal to the youth to empower themselves with the relevant technological skills that will make them not just employable, but also give them the ability to make a big change in the economy. As some people worry that Artificial Intelligence (AI) is going to take their jobs, Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, now a businesswoman, and a farmer, was on MUT Radio on 29 July 2025, where she appealed to the youth to study AI and use it to their advantage. Referring to what AI does for people that have embraced it, Professor Phakeng said “it is like you have an assistant that gets you books from the library,” adding that it was important for students to use the tool wisely. She said that even though she is no longer an academic, she keeps in touch with what is happening in her area of study by instructing AI to fetch her the latest material published.
Giving guidance on how to use AI without violating the rules, Professor Phakeng said “you can ask the different AI tools to bring you different papers that have been published, and you can then choose from that. Not that AI will do the writing for you,” she said. Professor Phakeng said AI would make the youth efficient in everything you do. “Today’s world is dominated by AI. AI is here to stay. AI is not here to replace us as human beings. If you do not learn AI, and use it, someone with AI skills is going to replace you,” warned Professor Phakeng. Turning her attention to the lecturers and teachers, Professor Phakeng said they could use predictive AI, and give support to their students. “Give them an assignment where they can engage with AI. AI is not an enemy.”
South African higher education institutions are yet to come up with policies and guidelines that will regulate how their students and staff should use AI. But Professor Phakeng is now miles ahead. During her talk on the radio, she gave her view on the issue. “Any university that expels a student who used AI is backwards. It is how you structure your questions that will matter,” she said, meaning that academics and teachers should work with AI, not against it.
Professor Phakeng, a familiar face on social media, has created a mentorship programme that students can register for. The FabAcademic mentorship programme is designed to support individuals in their academic careers. Students can apply to study this programme, which is called AI Fluency Training. The programme is offered by Netcampus, in partnership with Microsoft.