Following the College of Education’s launch of activities to celebrate the 2024 DSRA, the College held a virtual panel discussion centered around the theme, “Generative AI: African Perspectives on its Challenges and Prospects.” This event aimed to explore the challenges and prospects of generative AI in the African context, with particular focus on education, data, extraction and usage, societal acceptance, risk management as well as ethical and legal implications.
Dr. Evelyn Folake Kissi, a lecturer in the Department of Teacher Education and Chairperson for the event, emphasised the importance of addressing ethical and legal concerns related to generative AI. She highlighted critical issues such as privacy, consent and the need for robust legal frameworks to protect vulnerable individuals and communities involved in AI research.
Dr. Jude Kong, Director of the Artificial Intelligence and Mathematical Modeling Lab at the University of Toronto, expressed gratitude to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), for funding the work being done on the continent. Reflecting on his youth, he shared memories of communication challenges and the lack of healthcare facilities and human resources.
He stressed the need to leverage this new technology to create tools that are proactive and assistive. He discussed challenges in data extraction, usage and affordability due to infrastructural limitations, inconsistent data collection methods and limited digital records. He also emphasised the importance of data quality, while advocating for using AI to modernise agriculture.
Dr. Kong also addressed language barriers and the need to build AI models inclusive of Ghanaian languages, to facilitate better understanding and expression. He underscored the necessity of local relevance, responsibility, ethics, accountability and unbiased approaches in assessing students.
Madam Awo Aidam Amenyah, Executive Director of Child Online Africa, focused on the youth and the interaction between humans and technology. She stressed that generative AI, whether in classrooms, health institutions or financial institutions, should shape the development of younger generations.
She discussed the factors influencing AI acceptance, including cultural and societal dynamics, and examined AI's potential to enhance education, healthcare and financial services. Highlighting a practical example, she spoke about how small-scale farmers in Nigeria are using sensors and drones to optimize crop production, illustrating AI's tangible improvements in agriculture.
Desmond Israel ESQ., a data privacy and cybersecurity consultant, explained how different countries are shaping AI policies, citing Rwanda's national AI policy passed in 2022 to promote ethical AI use and innovation. He discussed the ethical principles needed for responsible AI, such as fairness, transparency, accountability and privacy, highlighting the importance of third-party checks to ensure accurate AI research.
Mr. Israel touched on the necessity of considering economic and cultural factors, like language diversity, to make AI inclusive. He also suggested using solar energy to address electricity access challenges and stressed the importance of cultural adaptation in AI tools, training in technology use and tailored government policies, referencing the African Union's Agenda 2063. He emphasised community engagement, cybersecurity, and youth engagement to create innovative solutions through technology.
At the close of the webinar, Dr. Kissi lauded guests for the enlightening discussion and the information shared by the panelists. She expressed hope for more of such platforms to further explore AI's implications and address arising questions, urging students to delve deeper into their research and emphasising that AI should not remain an abstract concept.
Rev. Sr. Dr. Florence Awoniyi, Senior Lecturer at the Department of Teacher Education moderated the virtual panel discussion.