Wise words from the East

Everything AI
Dr Evans Sagomba
LAST week, I made a clarion call for the Government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services (MICTPCS), to urgently ensure that the country develops and implements the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework (ZAIGRF). This week, as a continuation of last week’s article, I am giving our readers a possible outline of the structure of ZAIGRF. The main idea is to ensure that AI development and deployment in Zimbabwe are ethical, transparent, and beneficial to all citizens.
What should be the objectives of ZAIGRF?
I propose that the objectives of the governance and regulatory framework (GRF) should be to:
Promote ethical AI development: This objective will primarily be to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies and applications are developed and deployed in such a way that they take into consideration human rights. In other words, the governance and regulatory framework (GRF) must underscore that AI meets ethical standards, and data privacy, and respects human rights.
Foster Innovation: The governance and regulatory framework (GRF) should not be inhibitive, rather it should be able to create an environment in Zimbabwean technical space that encourages ingenuity, innovation and the growth of AI technologies at the same time also safeguarding the interests of the people of Zimbabwe.
Ensure transparency and accountability: The other key objective is that the proposed framework should be able to establish clear guidelines and mechanisms that ensure that there is transparency and accountability in AI systems.
Protect data privacy: This is a critical objective, working with other organisations like the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (POTRAZ), the framework should cause the implementation of robust data protection measures that fundamentally safeguard the personal information of Zimbabwean citizens.
Facilitating collaboration: The governance framework must also be able to ensure that there is genuine and effective collaboration between various stakeholders in the technology industry particularly Government, industry, academia, civil society, and AI enthusiasts.
What are the possible key components of the Zimbabwe Artificial Intelligence Governance Framework (ZAIGRF)?
The proposed AI governance and regulatory framework (AIGRAF) should include the following components;
Ethical guidelines and standards: A well-to-do AI governance regulatory framework must incorporate a comprehensive set of ethical guidelines and standards (EGS) for AI development and deployment in Zimbabwe. These guidelines must be able to address issues such as AI bias, fairness, transparency, and accountability.
Data protection and privacy: The governance and regulatory framework (GRF) must establish stringent data protection and privacy regulations; The data protection and privacy regulations will assist in ensuring that AI systems in Zimbabwe handle data responsibly and securely. These regulations must incorporate comprehensive guidelines for data collection, storage, processing, and sharing. For instance, AI systems must obtain explicit consent from individuals before collecting their data, ensuring transparency and accountability. Data storage protocols must enforce mandatory encryption and secure access controls to prevent unauthorised access and breaches.
More so, the data processing guidelines must ensure that data is anonymised and used solely for the intended purposes, this reduces the risk of misuse. Additionally, when it comes to the sharing of data between organisations, governance and regulatory frameworks must enforce strict data-sharing agreements, ensuring that third parties adhere to the same high standards of data protection.
AI impact assessment: The framework must be able to Implement a mandatory AI impact assessment process for all AI projects in Zimbabwe. This is essential in ensuring that the deployment of AI technologies is responsible and beneficial. This assessment must focus on evaluating the potential social, economic, and environmental impacts of AI systems in Zimbabwe. Through the identification of potential risks and benefits, policymakers and developers can make informed decisions in mitigating the negative effects of AI technologies.
For example, Zimbabwe is an agricultural-driven economy, the frameworks must then assess how AI-driven agricultural technologies might improve crop yields and food security.
Regulatory sandbox: This is a critical component of the AI governance and regulatory framework (AIGRF). In Zimbabwe to regulate AI efficiently, there must be a regulatory sandbox. The sandbox allows for the creation of a controlled environment that allows innovators to test their AI solutions under real-world conditions before they are deployed to the people. Sandboxes allow for the simulation of various scenarios, enabling developers to identify potential issues, such as biases, security vulnerabilities, and unintended consequences, and then address these issues before the AI application is deployed.
The sandboxes help facilitate collaboration between regulators and innovators, allowing a balance between the guidelines and best practices. Sandboxes is a proactive approach which helps to build public trust in AI technologies. This helps to pave the way for their successful integration of AI technologies into Zimbabwe’s society.
Public awareness and education: This is a crucial component; the framework must incorporate public awareness campaigns and educational programmes. The programmes will be essential for informing Zimbabwean citizens about the benefits and potential risks of AI applications. Public awareness and education programmes help in demystifying AI.
The framework should have a roadmap that provides clear and accessible information. Additionally, these campaigns must address common misconceptions and fears about AI, thus building trust and acceptance. The framework must also include educational programmes, like workshops, seminars, and online courses, to educate individuals and provide the knowledge and skills needed to engage with AI responsibly and effectively.
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Dr Evans Sagomba, Chartered Marketer/CMktr, FCIM, MPhil, PhD, [email protected], AI, Ethics and Policy Researcher, AI Governance and Policy Consultant, Ethics of War and Peace Research Consultant, Political Philosophy, Chartered Marketer. Social media handles ; LinkedIn; @ Dr Evans Sagomba (MSc Marketing)(FCIM )(MPhil) (PhD), X: @esagomba