The growing role of artificial intelligence in children’s lives came under discussion during the 4th Annual International Women’s Day Moot Court & Debate Competition 2026, where participants examined some of the legal, ethical and social questions emerging alongside rapid technological development. MESTECH was among the organisations supporting the event, which was hosted by the International Human Rights Lab in collaboration with the National University of Lesotho. Held under the theme “Give to Gain: Women in Tech and Law Reimagining Equality Through Digital Empowerment,” the competition brought young people into discussions at the intersection of technology, law, human rights and gender equality. 

MESTECH’s management participated as adjudicators during the competition. Among the motions considered was whether artificial intelligence systems should be used as emotional support tools for children, a question that reflects the expanding use of AI in areas previously dependent almost entirely on human interaction. Artificial intelligence systems are increasingly capable of holding sophisticated conversations, responding to emotional cues and generating responses that can simulate empathy. These capabilities have created possibilities for the technology to be used in education, information access and personal support, while simultaneously raising questions about safety, accountability and the appropriate boundaries of machine-assisted interaction. 

The debate examined whether AI could complement emotional support provided by parents, teachers and professionals without replacing the human relationships central to children’s emotional development. It also raised broader questions about responsibility when technologies capable of simulating human understanding are introduced to younger and potentially vulnerable users. For technology companies, such discussions are becoming increasingly relevant as artificial intelligence moves from specialised applications into everyday products and services. The implications extend beyond software development. Questions around privacy, child protection, accountability, human rights, ethics and regulation are increasingly becoming part of the wider conversation surrounding responsible digital transformation. 

MESTECH’s participation in the competition also reflected the growing need for collaboration between disciplines that have traditionally operated separately. As AI becomes more deeply embedded in society, decisions about its development and use are unlikely to remain the responsibility of technologists alone. Legal professionals, educators, policymakers, parents, researchers and technology companies will all have roles to play in defining appropriate safeguards and boundaries. 

For Lesotho, these discussions are particularly relevant as digital adoption increases and emerging technologies become more accessible. The Moot Court provided young Basotho with an opportunity not only to debate what technology can do, but also to interrogate how it should be used. That distinction is likely to become increasingly important as artificial intelligence continues to move into areas of life where technological innovation intersects directly with human relationships, rights and wellbeing.