AI adoption among Rwandan youth remains poorly documented, study finds

Rwanda has made progress in expanding digital connectivity, but there is still limited public evidence showing how young people are using artificial intelligence (AI) for education, employment and business, a new study has found. The findings are contained in the 2026 Commonwealth Youth AI Readiness Index, published by the Ayre Think Tank, which examines the conditions that enable young people aged 15 to 29 to benefit from AI across 56 Commonwealth countries. ALSO READ: Rwanda speeds up AI integration into learning, teaching The study identified a lack of publicly available information on how young Rwandans are using the technology productively, warning that the gap could make it difficult to determine where investment and practical training are most needed. Rwanda, according to the research, has approximately four million young people aged between 15 and 29, representing a significant population that could benefit from opportunities created by AI. The report notes that 4G network coverage reaches 98.8 per cent of the population, while data prices are relatively affordable compared with other Commonwealth countries. ALSO READ: When is the right time to expose children to AI? However, researchers argue that access to digital infrastructure alone does not establish whether young people have the skills and opportunities to use AI effectively. The study identifies five priorities for countries seeking to help young people benefit from AI. These include affordable and reliable access to technology, practical skills development, stronger links between training and employment, AI tools suited to local languages and needs, and safeguards that allow young people to question automated decisions. It also highlights the importance of understanding the specific barriers young people face before deciding where investment can have the greatest impact. ALSO READ: How AI integration could transform education Rwanda scored 38.1 out of 100 in the index, ranking 47th among the 56 Commonwealth countries assessed. Researchers used 60 of the 102 indicators available for scoring Rwanda. The researchers drew on 1,128 sources, including official statistics, international databases, surveys and published studies, to assess countries across areas such as digital access, education, employment, enterprise and AI use. The report argues that improving publicly available data on AI adoption among young people would help governments, educators and development partners identify gaps and better direct investments towards skills development and practical applications of the technology.

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AI adoption among Rwandan youth remains poorly documented, study finds