A Nigerian digital storyteller and tech advocate, Ayeni Dorcas, popularly known as Misstechy, has asserted that Artificial Intelligence can support innovation but must never be seen as a replacement for human creativity.
Misstechy made the statement while speaking at the UNESCO-UNEVOC Global Forum in Paris, themed “Youth Empowerment through AI and Digital Skills.”
According to a statement on Thursday, furing a panel on “AI in TVET – A Tool for Empowerment or a Threat to Human Potential?”, Misstechy addressed the unsettling rise of AI-generated content and its impact on online authenticity.
Citing the difficulty in distinguishing real from fake on social media, she said the solution lies in “critical thinking and rigorous fact-checking,” urging youths to build mental filters in an era of algorithm-driven content.
“AI might help bring ideas to life but it can never replace the human soul behind true creativity. It’s here to support us, not to take our place. The vision and spark will always come from us,” she told the audience.
Misstechy also featured in a second session on “Policy and Practice – Skills Demand, Trends, and Institutional Readiness,” where she shared stories of young Africans navigating and thriving in the continent’s growing digital ecosystem.
Appearing alongside international heavyweights from UNESCO, WorldSkills, and the German and French governments, her lived experience stood out.
Recalling her journey into AI, she said, “It was frustrating at first. But learning by doing changed everything.”
She credited online communities for helping her push through the early challenges and underscored the importance of collaboration in digital learning.
Touching on Gen Z’s learning style, Misstechy described platforms like TikTok as modern classrooms, explaining that young people prefer “bite-sized, relatable content” over long-winded lectures.
“When you break down complex topics into small, digestible pieces, learning becomes something they look forward to, not something they avoid.”
Data presented at the forum revealed that only 34% of TVET institutions globally are equipped to deploy advanced AI tools, while 78% of educators still feel unprepared to use them.
However, a youth-led survey showed that thousands of young people across 128 countries are already using AI for practical projects.
