Online Reporter
George Maponga in MIDRAND, South Africa
African countries have been challenged to fully embrace artificial intelligence (AI), with the technology projected to add US$3 trillion to the continental economy by the year 2030.
Addressing parliamentarians during the ongoing 5th Ordinary Session of the 6th parliament in Midrand, Johannesburg, on the topic, “Building a Continental Framework for AI, Data Sovereignty, and Responsible Digital Innovation,” Professor Mirjam van Reisen of Leiden University in the Netherlands said AI is the future.
Professor van Reisen revealed that with 40 percent of African organisations and 27 percent of companies already adopting AI processes, its impact is clear.
She, however, raised concerns over African representation in data sets and data ownership among other areas.
“Without control over data, Africa risks entering a ‘new age of colonialism’ where African digital information is exploited abroad without oversight or accountability,” she said.
“Digital data is the raw material, the resource for AI.”
This was backed by another expert, Dr Antony Mveyange, the director of programmes at the African Population, Health and Research Centre, who challenged PAP legislators to push for increased adoption of AI in Africa.
Dr Mveyange called for the development of AI tools that communicate in indigenous languages for easy wide usage and penetration across the continent
“We must develop AI that speaks to our languages and as you know, language is a key tool in leapfrogging development,” he said.
He lamented that most AI tools were currently dominated by Western-centric data, as AI algorithms are determined by data that is fed into the technology.
The adoption of AI and its likely negative effects are one of the issues under the spotlight by PAP during the ongoing 5th Ordinary Session of the 6th parliament.
