Technologist and policy scholar Dr Bryan Acheampong has emphasised that while Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming industries, it cannot replace the core of human creativity.

Speaking at a public lecture at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) on Thursday, June 26, 2025, themed “AI Disruptions and the Future of Work: Readiness of Our Youth,” Dr Acheampong said AI tools can now automate time-consuming tasks like video editing, transcription, and graphic adjustments, freeing creatives to focus on originality and storytelling.

He stressed that AI will reshape the economics of creativity, how content is priced, secured, and distributed, but will not replace human ingenuity.

The former Minister of Agriculture and current Member of Parliament for Abetifi told students, "AI won’t replace your creativity. But it will reshape how it’s monetised, protected, and distributed."

Touching on the creative and media sectors, which is UniMAC’s core mandate, he described these industries as Ghana’s untapped “AI goldmine,” where smart adoption of AI can revolutionise content production, audience targeting, misinformation detection, and digital storytelling.

“Your work will travel faster, reach wider, and attract new revenue streams, but it will also need stronger protection against misuse and theft,” he said.

He also highlighted the growing importance of intellectual property and digital rights management.

Dr Acheampong during his lecture challenged students to become AI-literate creatives who can use the technology effectively and advocate for fair systems that reward originality.

“AI isn’t here to take your seat at the creative table, it’s here to add new tools to your creative toolkit. The real challenge is not whether AI can create, but whether you are ready to create with it, profit from it, and protect what you create,” he explained.

He called for the urgent modernisation of Ghana’s intellectual property laws, the introduction of micro-credential programmes in AI, coding, and digital rights, and partnerships between creative schools and tech companies to give students hands-on experience.

Beyond the creative industries, Dr Acheampong addressed AI’s growing influence in agriculture, education, and public service.

He advocated for a National AI Policy, a Ghana AI Futures Taskforce, and a Skills Transition Plan that reaches underserved communities.

Dr Byan Acheampong in his concluding remarks laid out a strategic framework based on trust, adaptive human capital, and institutional readiness.

"Creativity will remain human but the business of creativity; the how, where, and who profits, will be forever changed by AI. You must be ready," he concluded.

The lecture, which formed part of UniMAC’s Distinguished Speakers Series, brought together students, lecturers, creatives, policymakers, and media practitioners for an in-depth conversation on the future of AI and work.







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