by Staff Writer
In Guyana, a small country on the northern coast of South America, a quiet revolution is underway. At the forefront of this movement is Karen Abrams, a visionary educator and technology advocate who is preparing the next generation of Guyanese children to thrive in a world reshaped by technologies like artificial intelligence. Through her work with STEMGuyana and her relentless dedication to using technology to scale high quality education for vulnerable students, Abrams is ensuring that the children of Guyana are not just ready for the future, but are poised to lead it. It is not an easy road she said, “we are receiving both resistance and support from some of the most surprising places in Guyana, but this work must be done, so we are both careful and grateful as we persist”
As artificial intelligence continues to disrupt industries and transform the global economy, the need for a workforce that is adaptable, innovative, and technologically literate has never been more pressing. Abrams, recognizing this urgency, has made it her mission to expose students to the foundations of AI, using STEM clubs and programs across Guyana to equip them with the skills they will need in a world where traditional boundaries between man and machine are rapidly dissolving. Abrams is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Florida and her dissertation will examine an Analysis of Learner Engagement and Its Impact on Academic Outcomes in Math and English Through use of an AI-Based Tutoring Platform. Abrams walks the talk.
“I’m not even a coder,” Abrams admits with a smile, “but I followed AI instructions to create and host an online multiplication game for our learning pod students (link below).” It’s a modest confession, but it underscores her point: AI is already making the impossible accessible to people who once lacked the technical expertise to engage in it.
And while she acknowledges that the demand for traditional coders will decline as AI continues to evolve, Abrams is adamant that those who learn to leverage AI to increase their productivity and efficiency will thrive. “The future won’t belong to those who just write code,” she says. “It will belong to those who can think critically, communicate effectively, and use AI as a tool to solve problems.”
Abrams’ sense of urgency is rooted in a clear understanding of the profound changes AI is already bringing to virtually every industry. In law, AI systems are automating contract reviews and legal research, reducing the need for junior associates. In medicine, AI is diagnosing diseases more accurately than human doctors in some cases, and is even recommending treatment plans. In education, personalized AI-driven tutoring programs are reshaping the way students learn, tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs of each learner. “A school in every pocket” is how Abrams describes the future of education and even today in tiny Guyana, there are students across the country who are engaging with such a platform. Abrams is awaiting their academic outcomes.
“AI is going to affect every single profession,” Abrams says, ticking off examples. “Law, medicine, education, agriculture, entertainment—everything.” AI will empower youths in places like Guyana to compete globally and at the highest levels. But, she notes, although AI will bring about automation and efficiency, the real benefit of AI is how it will unlock new possibilities, solving complex problems, and reshaping industries in ways we can only begin to imagine and those who can imagine a big vision for a powerful future will leap ahead.
“I want Guyanese children to be among those who leap ahead and I’m not just talking about those who attend top schools in region 4, I mean our learners at Lake Mainstay, Aurora, Lima Sands, at Bartica, at Tabatinga, at West Canje, at Black Bush Polder, at Surama and in all of our 40 learning pod locations. I want them all to have equal access to all opportunities and to be prepared to take full advantage of those opportunities, even global opportunities and this is not just a dream, this is very possible thanks to the support from entities like the folks at the IDBLab who really understand and support our shared vision.
“And parents play and important role in this vision”, Abrams said. “Enroll your children early in your neighborhood libraries, encourage them to read, insist that they attend school and other (free) educational programs, give your children positive feedback and encouragement about education, and do everything possible to take advantage of the opportunities available.” Parents can also enroll in STEMGuyana’s parent academy program so that they can ‘learn then help’ their own children. “Return to school and repeat the 3rd grade Math program for yourself and your children” Abrams implores. “There is absolutely no share in educating yourselves at any stage of life!”
Because AI will affect nearly every profession, Abrams is investing heavily in early exposure to the behind the scenes of AI for Guyanese students, both at the primary and secondary levels. “We have no idea what the world will look like 10 or 20 years from now,” she acknowledges. “Some say AI will devastate jobs, others say it will create even more opportunities. But we know this; Our young people need to be prepared for any eventuality.”
And prepared they will be. Through STEMGuyana’s clubs and programs, Abrams is laying the foundation for students to excel in an AI-dominated world. They are being trained not just to be proficient in technology, but to become innovators who can shape its future. The goal is not to produce mere coders, but thinkers—students who can design solutions, write holistic commands for AI systems, and manage AI outcomes to benefit their communities and their country.
One of Abrams’ most ambitious projects is the ongoing development and testing of an AI-driven educational platform in Guyana. This platform represents the next frontier in education, using artificial intelligence to tailor learning experiences to each student’s specific needs. While the system is still in its early stages, Abrams and her team are closely monitoring the outcomes of students on the platform, ensuring that it meets the highest standards of personalized learning that the future demands.
“The world is changing faster than ever before,” Abrams says, “and our children need to be intellectually curious, versatile, and confident in their ability to solve big problems.” For Abrams, education is not about rote memorization or standardized tests, It’s about fostering a generation of bold thinkers who can use AI and other technologies to address the challenges of their communities, their region, and the world at large.
Her vision for the future of Guyana is one of possibility. She speaks of young people who, despite living in a developing nation, will have the skills, confidence, and intellectual curiosity to compete on a global scale. Abrams knows that the success of this vision rests on ensuring that today’s students are not just passive consumers of technology, but active creators of the future.
And while It’s true that no one really knows exactly how AI will reshape the world. “We know that jobs will change,” Abrams says. The stakes could not be higher. In an era where the ability to think critically, design creatively, and communicate effectively will determine who succeeds and who is left behind, Abrams is ensuring that Guyanese children are positioned to lead. Her work is already bearing fruit, as students from STEMGuyana programs go on to excel in national and international competitions, in the oil industry, in universities, in entrepreneurship and other fields. What they have in common is that they’re all intellectually curious, they are communicate effectively, they all are willing to collaborate to solve problems and today they’re all positively engaged.
Karen Abrams’ journey to prepare the next generation of Guyanese students for an AI-impacted world is clearly a personal mission; but it is also a national imperative. She is helping to build a future where Guyana’s young people are not only prepared to navigate the complexities of an AI / tech-driven economy but are equipped to lead it.
“We need to think big,” Abrams says, “We need to be bold. And we need to be prepared.” With her passion, foresight, and commitment to empowering young minds, Karen Abrams is making sure that Guyana’s future is as bright as its youngest innovators.
Multiplication game Karen Abrams created using AI instruction
