Slowing AI Is a Blunder: Prof. Celestine Iwendi on AI Literacy, Workforce Readiness, and Ethical Governance

The debate over artificial intelligence development has reached a defining moment. As policymakers and tech leaders clash over regulation versus speed, Professor Celestine Iwendi, Head of the Centre of Intelligence of Things (CIOTH) and Professor of AI at the University of Greater Manchester, has outlined why deliberate deceleration is the wrong approach.

Speaking to The Bolton News, Prof. Iwendi highlighted that nations and individuals who hesitate risk being left behind in global competitiveness:

“Regulation is fine, but regulation should not replace funding. You can’t be saying regulation while others are moving forward. AI is the future and the present at the same time.”

Addressing mounting worker anxieties, Prof. Iwendi clarified that AI adoption is about capacity building rather than wholesale displacement: “AI will take the job of those who do not know AI. It’s as simple as that.”

Through CIOTH’s pioneering Applied AI initiatives, the Centre continues to break down technical barriers, training professionals and students across diverse disciplines — including law, healthcare, statistics, and criminology — to integrate AI tools responsibly into their daily practice.

Prof. Iwendi also echoed King Charles III’s recent summit address on data stewardship, reiterating that progress must be anchored by strong ethical frameworks and human-in-the-loop governance:

“The answer is not to slow innovation unnecessarily, but to make sure innovation is safe, transparent, explainable, and used for the benefit of society. Human beings must remain at the centre of the AI revolution.”

📰 Read the full feature: [The Bolton News Article Link]