(iii) AI Ethical Challenges and Opportunities in Africa As noted in the literature, most of the developed nations such as Europe, USA, and China are leading the use and development of AI (Fuster 2020). In addition, these countries are likely to reap most of the social-economic benefits and dominate policy debates. Therefore, in order to mitigate the counter risk, it is important to identify the existing
challenges and opportunities so that they can be well aligned in AI strategies and policies for sustainable transformation and social economic development of African countries. The following in Table 2 briefly describe the AI Ethical Challenges and Opportunities in Africa as indicated by (Okolo, Aruleba, and Obaido 2023)(Amankwah-Amoah and Lu 2022)(Jaldi 2023)(UNESCO 2022)(World Bank 2020)(Law 2023)(ITU and UNDP 2023).
Table 1: AI Ethical Challenges in Africa
Common Leading Voices Overwhelming unified voice leading the AI conversation in Africa is a must for the continent’s survival. Granted the African Union plays a hand, but a firmer one may be required to pull and streamline all the efforts, investments, and applications. More so is the survival of the ecosystem being built.
Privacy and Protection The proliferation of digital technologies and data-driven business models has raised concerns about privacy and data protection. With vast amounts of personal data being collected, stored, and processed, individuals are increasingly vulnerable to privacy breaches and data exploitation. However, advances in privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) and encryption techniques offer opportunities to strengthen privacy protections and empower individuals to control their personal data. Accountability Ensuring accountability in digital ecosystems poses challenges due to the complexity of digital supply chains and the involvement of multiple stakeholders. However, blockchain technology and distributed ledger systems offer opportunities to enhance accountability and transparency by providing immutable records of transactions and interactions. By leveraging blockchain for supply chain management and auditing, stakeholders can enhance trust and accountability in digital transactions. Visibility Enhancing visibility and transparency in digital ecosystems is crucial for building trust and accountability. However, the opacity of algorithms and decision-making processes presents challenges to transparency and explainability. Yet, emerging technologies such as explainable AI (XAI) and algorithmic auditing tools offer opportunities to enhance visibility and accountability by providing insights into algorithmic
Sustainability Digital economies have the potential to drive sustainable development and mitigate environmental impacts through innovations such as smart grids, energy-efficient technologies, and circular economy models. However, the proliferation of digital devices and data centers also poses environmental challenges, including energy consumption and electronic waste. By adopting green computing practices, renewable energy sources, and eco-friendly design principles, stakeholders can harness the transformative potential of digital technologies while minimising their environmental footprint. Safety and Security Ensuring safety and security in digital ecosystems is paramount to building trust and confidence among users. However, the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber threats pose challenges to cybersecurity and data protection. Nevertheless, advancements in cybersecurity technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), offer opportunities to enhance threat detection and response capabilities.
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Ethical Horizons - Mapping AI Policy in Africa May, 2024
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