By Blessing V. Bonga
SOUND Legislative framework is critical in terms of regulating any facet of a country’s development agenda as this helps to mitigate the abuse of systems while affording the best rewards to citizens at large.
Of late, the mere mention of the term, Artificial Intelligence, commonly referred to as AI is likely to bring a shiver down one’s spine- this emanating from word doing the rounds these days that such technology will replace human beings with robots across all sectors such as health, education, agriculture, customer service and retail services, rendering human beings obsolete in the job environment.
Rather than developing cold feet and resorting to fate, this is the most opportune time to dig deeper in terms of getting to understand this ‘monster’ called AI, so that as a people we can create a harmonious relationship with this new inevitable concept in a manner that would not necessarily replace humankind with AI-powered robots, but instead ensure co-existence.
The definition of AI remains complex, and according to Journalism Trust Initiative (jti) in collaboration with Thomson Foundation, there are around four billion search results that pop up when trying to get a definition of the phenomenon. However, simply put, AI is the ability of a computer system to perform tasks that would otherwise need human intelligence.
AI may therefore include machine learning and language or speech processing, while automating the learning process and decision making in a holistic sense.
The fact that AI involves a lot of technological innovations in the form of producing gadgets and software for example, while regulating their use leads to the question of whether or not there are requisite policies in place that allow for such, or rather there is a critical need for speed in coming up with necessary laws in a Zimbabwean context.
In a recent telephone interview with this publication, Zimbabwe’s ICT Permanent Secretary, Dr Beaullah Chirume confirmed the critical need to put in place policies that regulate the use of AI in a beneficial manner. She also pointed out that despite lagging behind, work was in progress to eventually have such policies in place.
“We currently do not have an AI policy in place yet, just as even some advanced countries are still working towards having such. Legislation usually lags behind events naturally, however, we are on the right track.
“At the moment we have put in place the Cyber and Data Protection Act, which is a very good starting point in terms of anything to do with the Cyberspace. However, we need to develop more specific legislation seeking to frontier disruptive technologies because these have far reaching effects on our people,” she said.
Dr. Chirume added that it is therefore imperative to ensure feasible modalities were in place in order to achieve the envisaged feasible policy framework. “So it’s now a case of how do we do it, how do we legislate around AI and the rest of the modern technologies such as IOTs (Internet of Things) and self-driving vehicles for example. This requires a microscopic look because AI has far reaching effects on society, ”she explained.
With a lot still to be clearly understood regarding the use of AI in developing countries at large, the use of AI in Africa has thus become a contentious issue.
According to a paper published in September this year by a think and do tank ECDPM’s Centre for Africa-Europe Relations on the issue of artificial intelligence policy and regulation in Africa, content relating to Africa is under-represented, while certain stereotypes and biases are perpetuated, and Africans and their data are at risk of being exploited.
The paper noted the example of exploitation of African data that involved the launch of WorldCoin’s AI project, where Kenyans were invited to scan their eyeballs on the crystal-ball-looking Worldcoin Orb in exchange for Worldcoin tokens, equivalent to around US$49. The development raised privacy, security, regulatory and ethical concerns over AI, resulting in Kenyan Authorities suspending Worldcoin operations pending an investigation.
In view of such, ECDPM notes that an increase in the uptake of AI tools warrants the question of whether African countries should exercise their sovereignty and leapfrog to AI regulation, or alternatively take their time to acquire knowledge around AI.
The argument being that African countries should not prioritise adopting AI-specific laws, but instead focus on strengthening the foundational regulations on data governance.
“If properly done, the implementation and enforcement of data protection laws is the first step on the journey towards AI regulation. Data protection laws provide guidance on processing of personal data such as biometrics, use of profiling tools and automated processing, the extent of such processing activities, and the rights of individuals,” the firm said.