While heavily US leaning, here are some takeaways on Kenya (and Africa) from the AI Index Report 2024 released by Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI):
The Nigerian Naira plunged 31% against the dollar , and the Kenyan Shilling lost 23% of its value in the past few months. These top two worst performers in Africa in 2024 are the continent's top two technology powerhouses. Therefore, while currency depreciation has had microeconomic implications, it highlights the dire need to take a critical look at Africa's innovation, technology, and AI ecosystem. Ory Okolloh, a prominent Technologist, Kenyan Investor and Philanthropist, posted this on her LinkedIn:
Many African startups that are grappling with challenging macros and currency devaluation are trying to reduce minimize $USD spend on expenses. The tech stack is typically a big part of this especially cloud costs. Looking to leverage the wisdom of the crowd here...any tips on alternatives or cost optimization strategies?
— Ory Okolloh
Her post represents the broader issue of access to computing in today's world and raises the question of digital sovereignty, a catchphrase used in the push for digital regulations.
In the first of a six-part paper, we have developed a framework through which we will contribute to Africans' discussions and perspectives on the design, development, and governance of Artificial Intelligence in Africa. This includes Data and Data Systems, AI Infrastructure, Talent, and Market.
Since its release in November 2022, ChatGPT, an AI chatbot from OpenAI, has become a viral phenomenon. It can generate human-like text and carry out natural conversations on a wide range of topics. But, what is the origin of the name "ChatGPT"?
"The great truism that underlies the civic technology movement of the last several years is that governments face difficulty implementing technology, and they generally manage IT assets and projects very poorly." – Mark Headd
OpenAI co-founder Sam Altman, during an interview in Lagos, Nigeria with David I. Adeleke[^1], highlighted the promise of AI in Africa and introduced RLHF as a potential solution to AI bias. In this piece, we delve into RLHF's implications and how it might address prevalent AI biases.
Some of the decisions algorithms make about our lives are fairly benign, such as those irresistible ‘Suggestions for you’ on Netflix. But it gets far murkier when artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning are used by businesses and governments for decision-making that affects our lives without us ever knowing about it. And worse, without us being able to appeal those decisions.
