Impact of Video Games & AI

Little did our parents know that when they allowed us, as children, to play video games, they were preparing us for the future.

I am going to age myself here, but here goes. From going to the arcade at the old Piarco Airport with my elder brothers and neighbourhood friends, to later watching our baby brother get his own Nintendo at home, it all felt like something out of this world at the time.

By the time our own children came along, technology had already come a long way from those arcade days. We had rules about when they could play and how long they were allowed to stay on those games. I cannot tell you how many times we said, “Listen, sitting down, playing this thing is not going to get allyuh anywhere in life. Go and pick up yuh book.” Shame on us now for saying that.

What we did not realise back then was that the digital environments they were immersed in, along with the problem solving, adaptability, and hand-eye coordination they were developing, were early training grounds for the world we live in today.

What we as adults need to understand is this. If we are going to teach our children about artificial intelligence, we must first learn how to engage with it ourselves, within their ecosystem.

Our children were born into the age of technology. We do not need to teach them how to use it, and they certainly should not have to teach us. But my generation must keep up or risk being left behind. At the very least, we should know the basics. This is no different from what we once told our children about learning their multiplication tables.

I have listened to countless conversations about AI, many filled with fear or even shame directed at those who use it. Recently, a close associate spoke strongly against it. I told him the first thing he needed to do was learn what it is and how it could support his current or future work. Understanding AI is not about replacing skills. It is about staying relevant and competitive in your field.

Let us be honest. No one complained when we moved from carving in stone to ink and quill, from printed encyclopaedias to libraries, or from libraries to search engines like Google. So why is AI suddenly a no?

Artificial intelligence has been evolving for decades. It has long been embedded in search engines, recommendation systems, navigation tools, and workplace technologies, long before it became a headline topic.

That said, AI should be used as a companion, not a shortcut. It is not meant to replace critical thinking, creativity, or effort. It is a tool to support learning, enhance productivity, and expand understanding, not to do the work for you.

This reality extends beyond offices and classrooms. Even in the skilled trades, AI must be understood and taught. I cannot count how many engagement meetings I have attended where employers spoke openly about the demand for workers with AI-related skills. From HVAC systems that rely on smart diagnostics to underground mining operations using predictive technology, AI is already embedded in the work.

The question is no longer whether AI belongs in these fields. It is whether we are preparing people to work alongside it.

The issue is not the technology itself, but how we choose to use it. Learning and adapting to new tools have always been part of how we move forward.

Camille Mc Millan Rambharat is a Workforce & Leadership Development Advisor. Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-m-rambharat