‘Youth must lead AI-driven new civilisation’

Youth must become the driving force of a new civilisation as artificial intelligence and rapidly evolving technology reshape society, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said on Wednesday.

He stressed the need for governments and international organisations to equip young people with the knowledge and skills required to navigate an increasingly technology-driven ecosystem.

Swapon made the remarks while addressing an event at the Foreign Service Academy marking International Youth Day 2026, organised jointly by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The day was observed under the theme ‘2026- Different Contexts, Common Aspirations’, with State Minister for Youth and Sports Md Aminul Haque presiding over the meeting.

Speaking as the chief guest, Swapon said knowledge and experience from previous generations alone were no longer sufficient to tackle the challenges emerging in the rapidly changing technological ecosystem.

“With the knowledge and experience of the old days, it is difficult to deal with the new challenges that are being created every day in the ongoing new ecosystem, including emergence of artificial intelligence (AI). So, it is the duty of every country to impart the right knowledge and skills to the youths,” he said.

The minister described unprecedented technological development, including AI, as a major blessing for human civilisation while warning that it was simultaneously creating entirely new challenges. “The evolution of technology and knowledge is happening so rapidly that it is difficult to predict what will be the next”, he said.

He noted that knowledge was no longer fixed or static as it was constantly evolving. Against this backdrop, he said the younger generation possessed the strongest biological and innate ability to adapt to the emerging ecosystem.

Swapon stressed that youth skills must be strengthened as technology-driven crises are being added to longstanding challenges such as employment, food security, natural disasters and climate change.

However, he said the institutional systems needed to provide young people with technology-based knowledge had not yet fully taken shape globally.

Swapon called on international organisations, including the United Nations, to prioritise young people in the process of transforming emerging knowledge into practical skills.

He said the rapid pace of technological and knowledge development made it essential to ensure that young people were properly equipped to respond to future challenges.

Mentioning the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, the minister said the premier had demonstrated through various government initiatives that he had full confidence in the capabilities of young people.
The government, he said, was taking positive and visionary decisions to promote sports, foster creativity and engage young people in addressing global challenges, including environmental protection and climate change.
Young entrepreneurs, students and youth representatives from various professions, senior officials of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and foreign guests attended the event.