For young people in Rwanda and across the continent, this reality poses a tough but urgent question: how do I remain competitive in a world where machines can do part of my job?
At the Global AI Summit on Africa, held in Kigali earlier this year, experts warned that as much as 40% of tasks in Africa's outsourcing sector could be automated. Women, they noted, are at higher risk of job loss. But they also emphasised that with the right skills, AI could become a job creator, not just a job destroyer â€" adding 500,000 new roles a year by 2030. It's now clear that competitiveness depends on how quickly you can adapt.
Here are five ways young people can stay ahead.
1. Learn to use AI as a tool, not fear it
Too many young people still see AI as a threat instead of a tool. But just as calculators did not eliminate accountants, AI will not eliminate human contribution. What it will do is redefine it. Those who know how to use AI will have a distinct advantage over those who resist it.
Imagine two candidates applying for the same job in a marketing firm. One is able to use AI to analyse customer data, generate creative campaign drafts, and measure impact in real-time. The other relies only on manual methods. Which one do you think an employer would hire?
The truth is, AI is becoming the new 'digital literacy.' Just as employers today expect basic proficiency in Microsoft Office or Google tools, they will soon expect candidates to understand how to use AI platforms for data, writing, design, translation, and more.
If you are not experimenting with these tools, you are already falling behind. Fortunately, there are numerous free and affordable online resources available, including tutorials on YouTube, as well as courses on platforms like Coursera and Udemy, that can help anyone start learning.
To stay competitive, the mindset shift must happen now. AI is not your rival but your co-pilot. Those who figure out how to combine their own judgment with AI's speed and efficiency will rise above those who see technology only as a threat. The workplace of tomorrow belongs to those who embrace AI early, learn to use it creatively, and integrate it into their everyday tasks.
2. Build skills that machines can't easily replicate
While AI is powerful, it cannot fully replicate human qualities such as empathy, creativity, and critical thinking. For example, a machine can analyse thousands of medical records in seconds, but it cannot comfort a patient in distress. An algorithm can produce a painting in milliseconds, but it cannot draw from lived human experience. Employers increasingly recognise that while AI can handle routine tasks, uniquely human skills remain invaluable.
This means young people must double down on developing abilities that machines struggle with: problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, and communication.
These skills are not developed overnight. They are cultivated through real-world practice, including taking on leadership roles in clubs or community projects, participating in debates, volunteering, or even running small entrepreneurial ventures. Each of these experiences forces you to make decisions under uncertainty, deal with different personalities, and solve complex problems â€" all things AI cannot do on your behalf.
The most competitive workers will be those who can pair technical fluency with these human strengths. Imagine a teacher who uses AI to prepare personalised lesson plans but relies on empathy and communication to inspire students. Or a young lawyer who uses AI to draft legal documents but applies sharp judgement to craft courtroom arguments. Competitiveness lies not in choosing between human and machine skills, but in combining them.
Another example I often use is the work of journalists. AI can help a reporter generate a transcript of a two-hour press conference in minutes or proofread an article draft with impressive accuracy. These are tasks that used to eat up valuable time. What AI cannot do, however, is capture the mood of a political rally, the tension in a negotiation, or the subtle irony in a speaker's tone.
AI cannot lean on intuition to decide which question to ask a minister when the cameras are rolling, nor can it interpret the unspoken signals in a crowded room. That human ability to sense, interpret, and contextualise remains irreplaceable, and it is precisely what will keep good journalists competitive in the AI age.
3. Focus on lifelong learning, not a single degree
The days of getting one degree and coasting through a career are gone. In the AI age, knowledge and skills have an expiry date. Technologies evolve so fast that what you learned five years ago may already be outdated today. For young people seeking jobs, the most dangerous mindset is assuming that a diploma or degree is enough to guarantee long-term relevance.
Employers are increasingly looking for people who can adapt to change, not just people with static qualifications. This means cultivating a habit of continuous learning. Fortunately, lifelong learning no longer requires enrolling in expensive universities.
A young graduate in Kigali can access world-class training in data analytics, digital marketing, or AI ethics through online platforms at little or no cost. Short bootcamps, workshops, peer-learning circles, and workplace training are all ways to refresh skills and stay relevant.
The best way to think about your career now is as a journey of multiple transitions. You may start as a customer support agent, then upskill to become a data analyst, and later transition into project management.
Each stage will require you to learn something new. Those who embrace lifelong learning will thrive in this environment of constant change. Those who resist it risk becoming irrelevant not because they lack talent, but because they stopped learning.
4. Look for opportunities to innovate in your own context
AI is not only about jobs in coding or Silicon Valley-style start-ups. Its real impact will be in local contexts. This includes how we grow food, deliver healthcare, teach children, and run small businesses. The most competitive young people will be those who spot everyday problems around them and use AI tools to solve them.
Take agriculture, for example. Farmers in Rwanda often face unpredictable weather and pest infestations. A young entrepreneur who learns to use AI-powered weather forecasts and pest-detection apps can build services that help smallholder farmers protect their crops.
In education, AI-powered tutoring platforms can help teachers identify struggling students earlier. In healthcare, chatbots can help triage patients in rural areas before they reach a hospital. These are not futuristic ideas; they are practical opportunities waiting for people with the creativity to apply them.
Instead of asking, 'Will AI take my job?', the sharper question is, 'How can I use AI to do my job better or create a new one?' Those who apply AI in ways that solve real community problems will not just remain competitive; they will create new forms of competitiveness for others around them.
5. Build networks, not just skills
Finally, competitiveness in the AI era is not only about what you know, but also about who you know. Skills are important, but networks create opportunities. Being part of innovation hubs, mentorship programmes, or professional associations exposes you to knowledge, resources, and collaborations that you cannot find alone.
In Rwanda, for example, initiatives like Norrsken House Kigali and the government-led Hanga Hubs are connecting entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and markets. These hubs provide a critical network for young innovators.
At the same time, organisations like ALX Rwanda are building the necessary talent pipeline, providing young people with the AI and tech skills that are essential for developing cutting-edge solutions.
A young person experimenting with an AI solution in isolation may struggle to gain traction. But the same person, plugged into a network, can find partners, funding, and guidance that accelerate growth. Networking also exposes you to ideas you may never have considered, sparking innovation.
To sum it up, the AI revolution will not pause for anyone. It is already reshaping the job market and redefining competitiveness. But it is not a death sentence for young people entering the workforce. On the contrary, it offers a chance to thrive if individuals embrace it with the right mindset.
The Global AI Summit in Kigali reminded us that Africa must not be just a market for AI but an active player. On an individual level, that means refusing to be a passive user of technology. Competitiveness now belongs to those who learn to use AI as a tool, cultivate uniquely human strengths, commit to lifelong learning, innovate in their own contexts, and build networks that multiply opportunities.
For young people searching for employment today, don't compete with AI; compete with those who don't know how to use it. The future of work is not about surviving disruption but about using disruption to build a career that endures.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
Source : https://en.igihe.com/opinion/article/how-young-people-can-stay-competitive-in-the-age-of-ai
