Avinash Meetoo

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Computing

Mental Health in the Digital Age at Middlesex University

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On Friday 8 November, I participated in a panel on “Mental Health in the Digital Age” organised by Middlesex University Mauritius.

During the session, we had the opportunity to discuss about ways to benefit from technology, especially social media and Artificial Intelligence tools, while ensuring that one remains mentally sound. It was a challenging panel for me as I am not a psychologist but, based on my experience of being a power user and an early adopter, I conveyed to the audience the need to always remain in power and to understand that a tool is not an end in itself.

I urged the young people in the audience to have long-term, medium-term and short-term plans and, if needed, to use technology, including Artificial Intelligence, to achieve their objectives. In particular, I touched upon the creation of “second brains” which is important for knowledge workers and I also spoke about getting things done using task management and time management tools.

At the end, we had an interesting Q&A session with the audience. I would like to thank the organisers from Middlesex University Mauritius, Emma, the well-being intern who moderated the panel very well as well as my fellow panelists: Alla Kozyreva, Guillaume Thierry, James van der Westhuizen, Jeremy Yan Shi Cheung, Mohamed Es Fih, Sanjana Gobin-Rambhojun and Yann Andrew Seewoochurn.

Participating in a panel on progress through AI and sustainability during the NEXTGEN conference

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On Friday 25 October, I was one of the speakers during a high-level panel on “Technology 5.0” during the NEXTGEN AI-Infused Era Conference organised by Chee-Peng Tan and his Team Synthesis staff.

The conversation was on how to harness Innovation, Technology and Artificial Intelligence for progress while making sure that the environment is preserved by having a clear sustainability agenda but also ensuring the wellbeing of all. This is what some people refer to as Society 6.0.

I spoke about how AI will shape our future, how Mixed Reality will become a business imperative (in order to have more and more data-driven decision making) and how robots will become our peers (which is especially important for a country like Mauritius with its aging population). But I also made people understand that most technology projects fail because end-users are rarely consulted during the development process and, as a result, the real problems are not solved.

It is therefore important to use technology as an enabler, not as an end in itself. It is also important to make sure that the fundamentals are right before trying to use AI as a solution. Of course, I mentioned that innovation, technology and AI can make Africa leapfrog other continents if its young population is properly trained for the jobs of the future.

Shateeaum Sewpaul, the moderator, masterfully made sure that the panel discussion was as fluid as possible. My fellow panel members were Sameera Chattun Koyratty, Marc Israel, Eshan Amiran Ashvin Pudaruth, Andre Hoffmann and Zainol Zainuddin. At the end, we had an interesting Q&A session with the audience.

Ma présentation sur l’Intelligence Artificielle au Curepipe Co-operative Credit Union

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Le Samedi 7 septembre 2024, pendant presque deux heures, j’ai eu le plaisir de partager quelques éléments importants sur le futur de Maurice et le rôle de l’Innovation et de la Technologie, en particulier l’Intelligence Artificielle, dans cette démarche. J’ai aussi mis l’accent sur la nécessité d’avoir une population créative et bien formée.

Merci à Clency Lajoie, Président du Curepipe Co-operative Credit Union, de m’avoir invité à faire cette présentation avec les divers responsables des coopératives de la région. J’ai essayé de répondre à la question de comment ces coopératives peuvent mettre à profit l’innovation et la technologie (incluant l’IA) pour mieux servir leurs membres, pour le progrès du Credit Union et aussi de la République de Maurice.

En plus des présidents et employés de coopératives, il y avait aussi des professionnels de divers secteurs, dans l’enseignement, les resources humaines, des cadres d’entreprises, des étudiants, des travailleurs manuels, des jeunes et des moins jeunes, etc. parmi l’audience. Ma présentation, suivie d’un passionnant échange avec ce public, s’est déroulé à la salle Jean-Paul II, à la Cure de l’église Sainte Thérèse à Curepipe.