July 23, 2025As part of Productivity Week 2025, IECD proudly nominated two young professionals Ms. Maria Emmanuel, Senior Compliance Officer for Home-Based Child Care Services, and Ms. Ryna Estrale, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer for Centre-Based Child Care Services to represent the Institute at the Youth Forum held on 18th July 2025. The forum’s central theme, “Productivity through Technological Advancement,” brought together thought leaders and youth to explore the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across education and the workplace.
The discussions underscored a critical message: AI is a tool, not a substitute for human insight. Both representatives emphasized the urgent need for public awareness, responsible usage, and critical thinking in engaging with AI technologies.
“The issue is not the pace of technological change, but how youth are using AI without foundational knowledge,” noted Ms. Estrale. She warned against passive, uncritical usage and stressed the need to recognize AI as a human-made construct shaped by varied perspectives requiring users to evaluate and interpret information before applying it meaningfully.
Ms. Emmanuel further broadened the conversation, pointing out that technological advancement goes beyond AI. Everyday tools such as laptops, scanners, and email platforms already play a central role in streamlining workflows and boosting productivity. She offered a personal reflection as a full-time professional and part-time university student:
“I use AI sparingly about 1% of my work to support minor research tasks. The rest relies on personal effort, verification, and critical thinking. AI should be used to amplify your own work, not replace it.”
She encouraged younger generations to explore AI tools, while urging them to avoid copy-pasting and to safeguard originality and accuracy.
IECD commends Ms. Emmanuel and Ms. Estrale for their powerful contributions. Their perspectives serve as a reminder that technological advancement must be matched by ethical engagement and human intelligence, especially as productivity tools continue to evolve.
