The growth of Artificial Intelligence (AI) over the last decade has been remarkable, driven by advancements in computational power, the availability of vast datasets, and significant improvements in machine learning algorithms. This period has seen AI transition from a primarily academic pursuit to a ubiquitous technology, impacting a wide range of sectors including healthcare, finance, automotive, and entertainment. The acceleration of AI development has been particularly pronounced in the past year, with the advent of generative AI models that can produce text, images, and code at levels of sophistication previously unattainable. These models have demonstrated capabilities that blur the lines between human and machine-generated content, signalling a shift towards more intuitive, efficient, and personalized AI applications. This exponential growth in AI capabilities has sparked both enthusiasm and debate around its potential impacts on society, including ethical considerations, job displacement concerns, and the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure its responsible deployment. AI Literacy campaigns are needed across all elements of society to create an informed citizenry who can make their voices heard on future issues of AI, Furthermore, as AI based innovation energizes every industry, building AI skills is essential to future competitiveness in the global economy.
To prepare our students for their future, AI literacy must begin early. The Sri Lanka government, in partnership with public sector and private sector institutions, is proud to be a leading voice for AI Literacy through the launch of AI Clubs in the nation’s schools. This pilot program encompasses 100 schools across the country. Once complete, the intent is to roll out AI Clubs to all of the nation’s schools.
In the pilot, students from grades 5-8 engage in AI concept learning, capability development, context understanding of AI use cases, and creative projects exploring future AI uses in problem-solving and innovation. Via partnerships with industry experts such as AIClub, SLASSCOM, IronOne, and Boardpac, the students gain exposure to state-of-the-art Artificial Intelligence technologies, learning environments, use cases, and mentorship opportunities.
This initiative is part of Sri Lanka’s AI Strategy 2024-2028 which is being drafted by the Committee on Formulating a Strategy for Artificial Intelligence (CFSAI). To learn more about the Sri Lanka AI Clubs initiative, please contact “secretary@mot.gov.lk”.
You can also find Sri Lanka’s vision for AI here.