By: William Jackson, MAT
How can African teens and young adults that are disabled with walking and mobility challenges, wheelchair bound, leverage and apply AI tools to help and contribute to technology careers? How can AI assist them to be technologist and entrepreneurs in a world of data-sets, social media engagements, algorithms and generative AI .
What AI tools can the disabled use to be productive, contributory, imaginative, innovative and creative to help them be part of the growing technological expansion across Latin America.
Using ChatGPT and Perplexity to the benefits of the disabled in their desire not to be forgotten, ignored and left behind in the digital divide? These are challenges for communities where the body does not function normally, but the brain is creative and innovative. Imagination can be under-rated at times, but when it is applied to fulfil dreams, aspirations and goals it is an unmovable force that needs to be focused and mastered.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the creative potential to empower disabled individuals,
including those with mobility challenges or who are wheelchair-bound, to contribute meaningfully to the technology sector and expand their opportunities in remote careers.
For young people in Latin America, AI tools can break down barriers and offer both access
and agency in a fast-evolving technological ecosystem that has digital landscapes.
As AI continues to transform education, industries, economics young people with disabilities can play a significant role in shaping the future, provided they are equipped with the necessary tools and support.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has often emphasized the transformative power of AI in leveling the playing field. In an interview, Huang noted: “AI is the most important technology force of our time. It’s going to transform industries and improve lives in ways we can’t even imagine.”
This transformation is especially pertinent to individuals with disabilities, as AI can bridge
the gap between physical limitations and the tech industry. By integrating AI tools, such as
ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other assistive technologies, young disabled people can not only access education and remote work but also use these platforms to become creators, technologists, and entrepreneurs in their own right. One of the most powerful applications of AI is in facilitating remote work opportunities.
Many technology-related jobs today can be done from anywhere with a reliable internet connection, which makes remote work an ideal option for young people with mobility challenges. AI-driven platforms like ChatGPT allow users to quickly access knowledge,
generate ideas, and refine their skills. Whether in fields such as software development, digital marketing, content creation, or even AI research, the ability to have meaningful and productive interactions with AI-driven systems can be a game changer. ChatGPT, for example, enables users to engage in conversations, ask questions, and obtain context-sensitive information that would traditionally require physical presence or extensive research.
Another key tool for the disabled across Africa is Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine that offers conversational, personalized results. For a young adult in Africa who might face mobility challenges, Perplexity can act as an invaluable resource, helping them quickly retrieve information or brainstorm ideas for projects. Perplexity has the ability to cite the
resources it searches for facts, quotes, alignments and build partnerships. The AI can assist with breaking down complex concepts or simplifying technical jargon, which might otherwise be inaccessible due to educational or physical barriers. By tapping into these tools, disabled teens and young adults can upskill, enhance their knowledge, and participate in technology-driven fields in ways that were once out of reach.
Beyond education and remote employment, AI can help disabled individuals innovate and launch their own ventures. The ability to develop software, start an online business, or create digital content from a remote location is a tremendous advantage. Huang pointed out, “The future is about individuals and communities being able to create and innovate, no matter where they are.”
For young disabled people in Africa, this is an important step toward contributing to their local economies and the broader tech ecosystems across the continent of 55 nations. Africa has the opportunity to be a Superpower in 5 years or less if governments allow their people to be creative, innovative and imaginative.
AI also fosters creativity, which is essential for entrepreneurship. Using generative tools such as ChatGPT for ideation, content creation, or even building digital solutions can allow young disabled individuals to express their creativity and solve problems. They can build mobile apps, design websites, or create engaging social media content. Projects that can help them establish themselves as entrepreneurs. AI tools like ChatGPT can help fine-tune
ideas, write proposals, or automate mundane tasks so that individuals can focus on higher-level creative work.
Furthermore, AI’s accessibility features, such as voice recognition and predictive text, allow young people with mobility challenges to interact more easily with devices and software, enabling them to perform tasks independently. They can use these tools for programming, graphic design, and video production, while AI-powered transcription tools or voice assistants can streamline communication and project management.
As Africa experiences a technology-driven transformation, AI tools can ensure that young disabled individuals are not left behind, they are not ignored. The digital divide, which
has often marginalized people with disabilities, can be bridged by the strategic use of AI. By leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and other assistive technologies, disabled young adults across Africa can tap into the growing technological opportunities in the region, driving innovation, and contributing to the global digital economy.
In summary, AI holds immense potential to help young disabled people in Africa enter and thrive in remote technology careers. By embracing AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, these individuals can enhance their productivity, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit, and avoid being sidelined in the digital evolution. Jensen Huang’s vision of AI as a transformative force for everyone rings true, especially for the disabled youth of Africa, who can use AI not just to catch up but to lead the way in technology. Building Africa as a
Superpower with the disabled across Africa leading the way and making transformative changes that affect education, business development, entrepreneurialism and how the disabled are treated across a continent that relies and the creative and imagination of its people.
By: William Jackson, MAT
CEO MetaverseWP & My Quest To Teach
World Metaverse Education Program Director for the
World Metaverse Council
