This talk examines the burgeoning AI landscape in Africa. It is the first event in the 2023-24 AI in Africa Speaker Series.
Abstract
Recent technological advancements in computing, including generative artificial intelligence (AI), have commanded the attention of countries worldwide, leading to an unprecedented interest in developing and adopting AI. As AI development accelerates globally and concerns regarding its use grow, the need for effective AI regulation has equally heightened. However, African policymakers and governments remain underrepresented in global discourse on AI safety and partnerships to advance AI governance. The advent of recent forums, such as the UK AI Safety Summit, and multi-stakeholder efforts such as the United Nations High-level Advisory Body on AI and the OECD Expert Group on AI Futures, highlight the need for African countries to be equitably included in global AI governance initiatives. This talk examines the burgeoning AI landscape in Africa, highlighting promising use cases of AI, detailing ethical considerations of these technologies, and delineating priorities to democratize participation in international AI cooperation.
Chinasa T. Okolo, Ph.D. is a Fellow at The Brookings Institution and a recent Computer Science Ph.D. graduate from Cornell University. Her research focuses on AI governance in the Global South, human-centered approaches to AI explainability, and the future of data work. In addition to her work at Brookings, Dr. Okolo also serves as a Consulting Expert with the African Union, contributing to the development of the AU-AI Continental Strategy for Africa, and as an Ethics Advisor to the Equiano Institute, a research lab focused on steering safe and trustworthy AI in Africa. Her research has been covered widely in media outlets and published at top-tier venues in HCI and sociotechnical computing.
Free