With the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), there's growing concern that machines will replace human workers and create mass unemployment. However, as a university student witnessing the rapid digital transformation, I believe it's not about job loss-but job shift. For Bangladesh, the real challenge is preparing our youth to adapt and thrive in this new AI-driven economy.
AI is automating routine tasks across industries from finance and healthcare to manufacturing and customer service. While this does mean certain jobs will become obsolete, it also opens the door to entirely new types of employment. Roles in data analysis, AI ethics, machine learning, digital finance, and AI system supervision are emerging fast. The question is: Are we preparing our youth to seize these opportunities?
In Bangladesh, where a large percentage of the population is under 30, we have a demographic advantage. But to turn this into an economic advantage, we must invest in future-ready education. That means integrating AI literacy, coding, critical thinking, and digital skills into school and university curricula. Vocational training programmes must be modernised, and industries should partner with educational institutions to ensure skills taught match real-world demands.
The fear that AI will replace humans should be reframed. AI will replace tasks, not people. Human creativity, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and ethical judgment cannot be replicated by machines. This is where young professionals must learn to work with AI, not against it. Accountants can automate data entry and focus on strategy. Teachers can use AI to personalise learning. Marketers can analyse vast customer data for sustainable growth.
For Bangladesh, the AI revolution is not a threat. it's a wake-up call. If we act now, we can turn anxiety into opportunity. With the right mindset, policies, and education, we can lead a generation of youth who are not displaced by AI, but empowered by it.
Asiq Mohammad Mokbel Hossen
Student
Department of Accounting & Finance
North South University
asiq@northsouth.edu
