Avinash Meetoo

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Panel on Bridging Mauritius Towards an Intelligent Island during ELCA Tech Days 2025

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On Friday 27 June 2025, I had the honour of joining a panel discussion on “Bridging Mauritius Towards an Intelligent Island” during ELCA Mauritius’ Tech Days 2025.

Since 1968, ELCA has been at the forefront of Switzerland’s digital transformation. With a global team of 2,300 professionals based in Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Vietnam and Mauritius, the company continues to grow. ELCA is actively recruiting talent in front-end and back-end development and testing (Java, .NET, Python, React, Flutter), data analytics (Power BI), CRM functional consulting, and digital marketing. They also offer opportunities for trainees and apprentices.

Ahead of the panel, a series of insightful presentations were delivered on cutting-edge topics, including data-protected local Large Language Models, AI integration in software, autonomous AI agents and the critical need to prevent AI from becoming a mere copy-paste source in software development. Other key subjects included enterprise application architecture, cost-efficient infrastructures, software testing, ethical hacking and post-quantum cryptography.

During the panel, I emphasised that technology, including Artificial Intelligence, is not an end in itself but a strategic enabler. For Mauritius to achieve a higher level of development, we must begin with a shared national vision and clearly defined goals. Only then can technologists develop impactful solutions to our pressing challenges. I truly believe Mauritius has the talent and potential to become one of the world’s most advanced nations but it is time to break down silos, make people more innovative and tackle our complex challenges collaboratively.

I sincerely thank ELCA Mauritius for the kind invitation, particularly Bruno Lenain (General Manager), Olivier Meyer (Lead Delivery Manager) and Khemraj Molico (Senior Project Manager). A heartfelt thanks as well to my fellow panelists Loganaden Velvindron, Lovelesh Beharry and Shakeel Imrith as well as the moderators for an engaging and thought-provoking exchange. Thank you to the audience for great questions and for contributing to the event’s success. Finally, a special moment for me was reconnecting with some of my former students, now senior professionals at ELCA. Seeing their journey over the past 15 years was truly rewarding.

Panel on the Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Blue Economy of Mauritius

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On Tuesday 17 June 2025, I had the privilege of participating in a panel discussion on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our Blue Economy. This panel took place during the National Workshop on Artificial Intelligence for the Socio-Economic Development of Mauritius, organised by the University of Technology, Mauritius (UTM), in celebration of its 25th anniversary.

For Mauritius, the Blue Economy is far more than a concept. It is a national imperative. With limited land-based resources and increasing vulnerability to climate change, the ocean offers an avenue to diversify the economy, generate resilient jobs and assert maritime sovereignty. I emphasised that Mauritius needs to sustainably use ocean and coastal resources to further drive its economic growth and improve livelihoods while preserving fragile marine ecosystems.

During the discussion, I highlighted that the upcoming Assise de l’Océan would be a turning point for Mauritius to define clear priorities and explore how AI can enhance key sectors such as sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, marine renewable energy, sustainable ocean tourism, efficient maritime logistics, innovative research and capacity building while leveraging blue finance mechanisms.

Artificial Intelligence can be a powerful enabler: from monitoring our 2.3 million km² Exclusive Economic Zone, to fish catch analytics, smart port scheduling, site selection for marine renewable energy and the modelling of ocean systems. Yet, fundamental questions persists. Is our workforce ready? Are Mauritians prepared to seize emerging jobs in the Blue Economy? Are our educational institutions equipped for this challenge? And are we, as a nation, truly committed to setting and acting on clear, strategic priorities?

I extend my thanks to the University of Technology for the invitation, and to moderator Sanjeev Bokhoree, and fellow panelists Vinesh Emrith, Vivekanand Bhantoo, Sharveen Persand and Roshan Koonja for a rich and insightful exchange. Special appreciation goes to the organisers Kesseven Padachi, Sandhya Armoogum, and Kumar Dookhitram for making the event a success.

Demystifying Artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT for Journalists

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On Thursday 24 April 2025, I had the opportunity to speak at a workshop on disinformation held at the Media Trust and organised by the University of Mauritius with support from the French Embassy. The event brought together around 25 professional and student journalists. My presentation focused on Artificial Intelligence, Large Language Models (such as ChatGPT) and how these tools can support journalists in their daily work.

Over the course of two hours, I covered a range of topics including the history of AI, its relevance to Mauritius, highlighting the 2018 release of the national AI strategy and the launch of ChatGPT to the public in 2022. I also discussed the rapid evolution of AI models and the ethical implications of using LLMs in professional settings. At the core of my message was the idea that AI tools like ChatGPT, when used thoughtfully, can serve as valuable digital assistants for journalists.

I introduced prompt engineering to the audience, emphasizing how crafting effective inputs can significantly enhance the usefulness of LLMs. We explored different prompt formats, ranging from instructional and role-based prompts to more advanced types such as chain-of-thought and examples-driven prompts. Attendees actively participated, experimenting with prompts in real time on their phones and laptops.

I also demonstrated how AI can be used to analyse structured data, such as spreadsheets, and generate images using prompts. Toward the end, I touched on more advanced topics like temperature settings and tokens, and we reflected on how AI might continue reshaping journalism and society at large.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Christina Meetoo for inviting me and for organising this workshop on behalf of the University of Mauritius. It was a pleasure to be part of such a knowledgeable team of trainers, including Carina van Wyk from Africa Check, Rabin Bhujun, Jean-Luc Mootoosamy, Abdoollah Earally, Muzzamil Hosenally, Matthew Lamport, and of course, Christina herself. A special thanks also goes to Adrien Schwarz from the French Embassy, and to Shehzad Ali Joomun and Kannen Kathapermall from the Media Trust, for making this excellent initiative possible.