Malawi University of Science and Technology (Must) Bingu School of Culture and Heritage executive dean Dr Atikonda Mtenje-Mkochi says there is need to decolonise the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the creative space to make it more acceptable and contextualised for its use.
She made the remarks on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the fourth edition of Must’s Cultural and Research Innovation Festival at its Ndata Campus in Thyolo District on Thursday.
Mtenje-Mkochi said there is resistance on the adoption of AI, but noted that it is a normal thing because every new change is perceived with caution.
The executive dean said their institution has established a centre for AI used to champion the use of the technology.
Said Mtenje-Mkochi: “As Must, we are a leading investor in science and technology, even in artificial intelligence. We have a whole centre here on AI. Even in our programming now, we are incorporating AI into our curriculum.
“This year, we are starting AI literacy for all our programmes, whether the arts, sciences and everything else to understand how we can use it responsibly.”
Commenting on this year’s festival, she said universities, industries and the communities need to work together to advance research so that innovations should be data-driven and make informed decisions to have sustainable development in the country.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the festival, Must associate professor Chikondi Chisenga said much as academics appreciate what innovation, engineering and mathematics can do, without culture and heritage all that can be void.
“Without understanding where we’re coming from, all these are void. We cannot operate in a vacuum. This is why the university, through the Bingu School of Culture and Heritage, started the cultural festival,” he said.
