Prof Adekoya Urges Use of AI for Improved Food Security, Disease and Fire Management Systems

Fiapre: The Catholic University of Ghana (CUG) has held its second inaugural lecture, with a call on students and researchers to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance the nation's food security and improve disease and fire management systems. Professor Adebayo Felix Adekoya, the Head of the Department of Computing, Engineering, and Mathematical Sciences, noted that AI holds enormous prospects in tackling critical and emerging human needs.According to Ghana News Agency, Professor Adekoya cautioned students and researchers to be guided by high ethical standards, data privacy, and human dignity in the use of AI technology. The lecture, held at the main campus of the University at Fiapre, near Sunyani, was on the theme 'artificial intelligence: A measure of divinity's kindness to humanity' and was attended by students and faculty members.Prof Adekoya highlighted the productive use of AI, which could save lives through early disease detection such as cancer imaging and diabetic retinopathy, as well as advancements in precision medicine and drug discovery. He emphasized that AI technology could also be used to enhance national food security through precision agriculture, yield optimization, disease detection, and control as well as livestock monitoring.Furthermore, Prof Adekoya indicated that decision-making could be empowered through AI decision support systems in disaster management, resource allocation, and autonomous systems for safety and efficiency. He urged students and researchers to contribute towards tackling growing misinformation and disinformation in the AI space.Prof Daniels Obeng-Ofori, the Vice Chancellor of the CUG, remarked that AI is an all-inclusive technology, ranging from agriculture to zoology. He described the technology as 'divine,' emphasizing the importance of embracing, accepting, and using AI technology. Prof Obeng-Ofori urged experts to address and minimize AI's shortcomings, concerns, and biases, adding that AI is an emerging technology that can help improve job product ivity.