Being human in the time of neuroscience and artificial intelligence involve carefully exploring the nexuses of complexity where valid ideas are nevertheless in tension, manifesting subtleties and challenges that must not be overlooked. Each page expresses the existing tension(s) between ideas and within each theme, which emerged in the collective discussions, and are then complemented by insights from NHNAI network researchers.

Complexity on democracy #5: The stake of sovereign AI capabilities (for economic development)

Picture generated by IA

Participants from Kenya expressed their strong hope that AI can better the condition of the most vulnerable and excluded. However, they also worry about the lack of sovereign resources and capabilities, as well as vulnerabilities in terms of literacy and access to technologies. They point a risk of technological dependence and colonization, also implying that AI development in their country may not lead to local economic development.

The following ideas can be found in the global and local syntheses downloadable here

  • (Global – Democracy) Taking into account vulnerable people and contributing to human rights, social and political inclusion
  • AI and support to the post vulnerable:
    • (Kenya – Democracy) AI promotes human rights
    • (Kenya – Democracy) Vulnerable persons and Refugees
  • AI can foster economic development: (Kenya – Democracy) Desirable: tracking development
  • Lack of AI sovereign development: (Kenya – Democracy) Al and NS is undeveloped
  • For acknowledgement of AI huge potential for vulnerable persons and for problems of access and literacy, see also: (Global – Health) Using health technologies to better the conditions of life of the most vulnerable persons
Insights from NHNAI academic network:

The dominant discourse is, of course, that which encourages technological development in Africa and thus leads the continent along the path we have mapped out of a mathesis universalis. As Franck Kié, General Commissioner of the Cyber Africa Forum, explains:

« It is by answering these key questions that Africa and its 54 States will be able to rise to the challenge of making their digital transformation and the full adoption of artificial intelligence a real lever for growth, to become the digital continent of the decades to come. Some countries are already in the vanguard on this issue, and the others must follow. We have the means, we have the will: let’s get to work! Cyber Africanum est! »[1]

Another interesting report on this subject from an optimistic (non-critical) point of view: https://cpccaf.org/ia-quel-impact-sur-lafrique/

For a more nuanced and critical account, see :

Kouassi Touffouo Frederic PIRA, « Vulgarisation des théories d’adoption et d’appropriation des innovations technologiques pour une intelligence artificielle africaine », Communication, technologies et développement [En ligne], 11 | 2022, mis en ligne le 15 février 2022, consulté le 29 juin 2024. URL : http://journals.openedition.org/ctd/6809 ; DOI : https://doi.org/10.4000/ctd.6809

more critical are the words of Senegalese expert Seydina Moussa Ndiaye:

« For me, the biggest threat is colonisation. We risk ending up with large AI multinationals imposing their solutions across the continent, leaving no room for the creation of local solutions. Most of the data currently generated in Africa belongs to multinationals whose infrastructure is developed outside the continent, where most African AI experts also operate. This is a loss of African talent. (…) Africa could be used as a guinea pig to test new solutions, which would be a great, great threat to the continent. »[2]

[1] https://www.jean-jaures.org/publication/cyber-africanum-est-les-enjeux-de-lintelligence-artificielle-et-de-la-cybersecurite-en-afrique/

[2] https://www.un.org/africarenewal/fr/magazine/janvier-2024/interview-un-expert-en-ia-met-en-garde-contre-la-colonisation-num%C3%A9rique-en