AI will only replace ignorant professionals, Neuroscientists warn
Medical experts and academics have warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not replace human scientists, but will inevitably take the jobs of professionals who refuse to adapt to emerging digital
Medical experts and academics have warned that Artificial Intelligence (AI) will not replace human scientists, but will inevitably take the jobs of professionals who refuse to adapt to emerging digital technologies.
The stakeholders issued this warning during the SmartBrains Neuroscience School 2026 held at Bingham University in Karu, where 38 young African neuroscientists were trained on integrating AI into brain research to combat the continent's rising burden of neurological disorders.
Declaring the School open, the Vice Chancellor of Bingham University, Professor Haruna Ayuba stated that society must welcome the advent of AI to develop, noting that the technology is designed to make jobs easier rather than replace human expertise entirely.
Ayuba, who was represented by the Dean of the Bingham University Postgraduate School, Professor Bamidele Okoli, dismissed the widespread apprehension that AI will render legacy professionals obsolete, urging for legacy professionals to adopt a paradigm shift.
"We are no longer in an ecosystem where we should be thinking that way. If we need to develop as a society, we must welcome the advent of AI. It is not going to replace anybody's job, but it is going to make our job much easier,” he said.
While confirming that Bingham University has officially adopted a robust AI policy to aid student research, he highlighted a pressing concern regarding the ethical and cognitive implications of the technology on younger demographics.
To combat this, Okoli emphasised that the future of African scientific innovation relies entirely on strict institutional frameworks, "Everything boils down to what policies are in place," he stated, asserting that the ethical usage of AI is the only way to safeguard the intellectual rigor of the next generation.
The coordinator of Smartbrains Neuroscience School 2026, Professor Barnabas Danborno, explained that the five-day workshop, themed around "Neuro-AI, Neuro-Technology, and Career-Empowering Tools," was designed to merge traditional neuroscience with modern computational tools that will enable the scientists combat complex conditions like stroke, epilepsy, and neurodegenerative diseases.
He demonstrated how researchers can leverage AI for disease classification, specifically in managing complex neurodegenerative conditions like stroke and epilepsy, adding that bridging neuroscience and AI enhances practical medical applications.
Danborno stated that the school which is sponsored by the International Brain Research Organization (IBRO), Bingham University and STEM for Girls Nigeria trained the participants who were young neuroscientists with artificial intelligence skills to modernize brain research and enhance global collaboration.
The Director of Smartbrains Neuroscience School, Professor Angela Danborno lamented that African researchers have relied on analog methods for too long emphasizing that mastering neural networks and machine learning will enable local scientists to run virtual experiments and collaborate seamlessly with global experts without geographical barriers.
Facilitators and participants at the five-day workshop echoed the necessity of the training for modern academic survival.
Dr. Obinna Auchawa, a cognitive neuroscientist from Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi acknowledged that mastering the ethical application of AI is now essential, confirming that AI is coming to replace people who do not know their jobs.
Dr. Lydia Lor from the University of Jos echoed this sentiment, describing the machine learning tools as indispensable for her everyday research and teaching in neuropharmacology.
Dr Zainab Sambo from the Federal University, Kashere in Gombe added that the training will have a multiplier effect, as participants plan to return to their home institutions and spark a technological revolution among their peers.
Facilitators including Professor Bamidele Owoyele of the University of Ilorin and Dr. Ogbe Susan of the Federal University, Wukari highlighted the practical applications of the training.
They noted that skills such as creating graphical abstracts and utilizing machine learning are now indispensable for securing international journal publications and advancing daily research.
Majority of the participants were from universities across Nigeria while some of the participants who are outside the country attended virtually.
