Ewan Carmichael
Ewan Carmichael
Public Policy & Strategy Consultant, Policy Officer at Quarriers
Ewan is an experienced youth leader with diverse experience in equalities and public health policy as a freelance consultant, and as Policy Officer at leading social care charity Quarriers. He has worked extensively to elevate intersectional voices in decision-making processes, and currently serves as a Board Director and Charity Trustee at Alcohol Focus Scotland and Iriss.
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Young people need to be at the forefront of many conversations around the future - and AI is one of these pivotal areas. I’ve represented young people in various roles, and presented recently on the here and now of AI at Edinburgh’s Scottish AI Summit. As a neurodivergent person, I also believe in the inclusion of disabled people in these conversations, to allow for the future of AI to be as inclusive and accessible as possible. As a university student, I’m also well placed to advise on the rapid rise of its use amongst students, with its both positive and negative implications for the future of education.
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Scotland’s many diverse communities could benefit from AI-powered services. It could increase availability of healthcare and other essential programmes for those in more isolated rural areas, and provide new assistive technologies for disabled people. This potential is limitless, but only if we provide ample funding at a national level to explore these avenues, and engage communities directly to keep them at the heart of decisions about its ethics and use.
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I’m concerned about the potential for our deprived and elderly communities to be left behind during this period of very rapid development and expansion. AI has become a strong tool in a student’s arsenal, and an effective ‘second brain’ for many professionals. Without targeted outreach and support, areas with digital inequalities may find themselves excluded from the job market increasingly driven by AI proficiency.