Sundaymail Editor
Online Reporter
COUNTRIES in Sub-Saharan Africa are at risk of losing an estimated US$350 billion market represented by frontier technologies, which have a potential to grow in value to US$3,2 trillion by 2025, due to failure to adapt to the ongoing technological revolution.
The findings contained in the 2021 Technology and Innovation Report reveal the serious implications on sustainable development that could be potentially caused by failure to adapt to frontier technologies such as Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Drones, Blockchain and 3D printing.
The report came under spotlight as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in Zimbabwe and stakeholders held a dialogue session ahead of the International Day of Universal Access to Information commemorations, which are held annually on September 28.
In line with Government’s thrust to ensure an equitable and inclusive society, the discussion was held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence, e-Governance and Access to Information: Leaving no one and no place behind”.
Unesco’s regional advisor for communication and information, Mr Al-Amin Yusuph, said while adapting to the technological revolution had significant gains, there was need for policy frameworks which guided ethical conduct, protection of the continent’s sovereignties, human rights and curbing inequalities emanating from the digital divide.
“Unfortunately, we are talking of a very complex technology here and we want to avoid leaving no one or any place behind. Now that brings another challenge that the deployment of AI in Africa, especially when it comes to access to information governance, is extremely low,” he said.
“We have also seen that there have been some attempts on coming up with the policies; for instance, SADC, which has initiated the Fourth Industrial Revolution Strategy, which is also looking at issues related to technology including AI …
“But there were also observations of the need for capacity building to strengthen training capacities, systems, human resources capacity in the development of AI in the region.”
Last year, Unesco member states adapted the first ever global agreement on ethics of AI.
Tinaye Agere
Online Reporter