IGF 2019 WS #368 AI and future jobs in light of national youth policies

Information

Session

Theme:

Subtheme(s):

Digital skills
disabilities
Inclusive Governance

Organizer 1: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 2: Civil Society, African Group
Organizer 3: Civil Society, Intergovernmental Organization

Speaker 1: Joy Wathagi Ndungu, Civil Society, African Group
Speaker 2: Élisson Diones Cazumbá , Civil Society, Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC)
Speaker 3: Afi Edoh, Technical Community, African Group

Policy Question(s):

How do we best equip the youth workforce of the 21st century with the necessary skills to take advantage of the new employment opportunities that will result from digital transformation? How do we ensure that these skills and employment opportunities are equitable to all and that the global south is equipment to participate on an equal footing?

Relevance to Theme: Digital inclusion mostly applies to special groups such as women,minority gender groups and even youth who are very much part of the development agenda. While AI is driving massive shifts across the globe, the question of what role it can play to improve inclusion as well as ensure it does not widen existing employment gaps is crucial.Youth in particular are yet to fully understand its implication and recognise whether to embrace or refrain form AI.It could be a double edged sword that could help address some of the biggest challenges particularly on decentralization of opportunities as well as public service.This session aims at providing a framework for assessing and considering the various elements and policies which can improve access to equitable opportunities in the digital age for youth.While looking at what national policies are talking about in the light of inclusion, employment opportunities and technology in the 21st century,some of the gaps to be addressed include research, skills, policy and operational frameworks in AI and future jobs for youth who for continents such as Africa, constitute the larger population.

Relevance to Internet Governance: As an emerging technology that leverages on the internet a great deal,it feeds on data and hence requires participation of the different groups that interact with it.There is need for ethical principles to be considered in the design and use of AI. In order for AI applications to be ‘pro-people’ it is important to look at ethical challenges and legal frameworks that ensure AI’s potential is harnessed and jobs are secured. AI’s implications on future jobs and youths who are at the center of it all require establishment of shared values,guidelines, and frameworks that shape how it is governed and used hence the correlation between AI and Internet governance.

Format:

Round Table - Circle - 60 Min

Description: This workshop will be geared towards understanding Artificial Intelligence, future jobs threats and opportunities for youth while linking it to national and regional youth policies.This will also look at how youth can harness the economic opportunities of being online and using emerging technologies to secure jobs in the 21st century were more of the world biggest employment markets are fast being automated. It will also look at the gaps that exists between countries that already have AI strategies as well as digital inclusive provisions in their youth policies to ensure that youth can leverage opportunities in the cutting age of technology.

For example It is estimated that some of the fastest growing cities in the world will be in Africa in the coming years including Kinshasa which has possibly 12 million inhabitants and is predicted to be Africa’s second largest city with 75 million people inside 50 years ,Nairobi was recorded as 3,523,000 in 2010 and is expected to reach 6,246,000 by 2025 and Dar-es-salaam as recorded as 3,350,000 in 2010 and is expected to reach 6,202,000 by 2025. Most of the population in Africa is of the youth population (15-24) where about 70% of the continent is under 30 years, and this figure rises even higher in some cases. Young people account for about 20% of the population, 40% of the workforce and 60% of the unemployed.

Future of Jobs Report 2018 by the World Economic Forum, reports that the workplace is expected to change dramatically between 2018 and 2022 by four technologies: "ubiquitous high-speed mobile internet; artificial intelligence; widespread adoption of big data analytics; and cloud technology.Because automation has crept into modern society so slowly, it can be extremely difficult to predict how the job market will evolve as it gets ever more advanced. The biggest challenge will be ensuring “artificial intelligence” does not lead to the mass loss of jobs or reliance on importation of ‘foreign’ skills almost certainly requiring new legislation to be passed, as well as a re-think of the employment market overall.How do youth fit into the aspect of future jobs and how can they mitigate this,what policies and frameworks are or can be put in place for the development of such spheres.In 2025, machines are expected to perform more current work tasks than humans as compared to 71% being performed by humans as of now. The workshop will have youth in a round table to discuss policy recommendations on AI governance, how to make AI inclusive as well as how their national/regional youth policies are factoring AI into securing jobs.Different case studies of AI adaptation,governance as well as what policies say will be shared and discussed, and best practices drawn or derived to ensure youth are ahead or part of the fourth industrial revolution.

Expected Outcomes: The outcomes of the workshop included:
Shared case studies and best practices on AI and future jobs from different countries
Policy recommendations on AI legal frameworks as far as youth and job markets are concerned.
Identified methods and roadmaps on leveraging AI as an equalizer and opportunity base.

Discussion Facilitation:

The moderator will introduce the session and its objectives and then invite speakers to share case studies after which participants as well as speakers will engage in discussing the shared case studies as well as brainstorming on ideas and suggestions in reaching the outcomes of the session.The workshop will derive the discussion around the key policy questions that its trying to address and hence encourage participants to actively share their own case studies and recommendations in response to questions.

Online Participation:

Will share widely with communities to follow online who cant attend as well as through the online moderator ensure participants online are engaged well and are part of the workshop.

Proposed Additional Tools: Social media for promotion

SDGs:

GOAL 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
GOAL 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure