A Case for Inclusive AI from Africa

Published : Dec 17, 2024 18:02 IST - 4 MINS READ Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionise how we live today. Realising this new technology’s full potential, though, requires addressing several challenges causing significant barriers and imbalances across many parts of the world. Ushahidi, a global non-profit organisation, has been focused on surfacing community-generated data to drive impact across various sectors using open-source technology for the last 16 years in over 160 countries and engaging with disenfranchised communities to play active roles in realising the future we want to see. Need to fill data gaps As the world is taken by storm by emerging technologies such as AI, if we do not pay attention to filling data gaps, growing AI talent, and investing resources for computing in the global south, these AI systems will continue to perpetuate bias with disproportionate negative consequences on disenfranchised communities. It’s also promising to see several African countries collaborating with the public and private sectors to develop national AI strategies that could help tackle these challenges from a policy level, grounded in African values and lived realities.