The issues raised by AI are not insurmountable. They demand a coordinated, inclusive effort by all stakeholders: governments, tech companies, civil society, and citizens.
In Zimbabwe, there is an opportunity to craft policies and educational programmes that not only mitigate the risks of AI, but also harness its potential for social good. Imagine a Zimbabwe where local universities, in partnership with international experts, create curriculum modules on AI ethics, data privacy and digital rights. Envision community centres that offer workshops to educate small business owners and ordinary citizens about protecting their digital identities.
But how do we achieve this ideal? The answer lies in recognising that technology, while powerful, must always serve human interests. We must invest in digital literacy initiatives that empower Zimbabweans to understand and challenge the technologies shaping their lives.
Policymakers should work alongside technologists to draft legislation that enshrines data privacy rights, mandates transparency from AI companies, and imposes strict penalties for breaches of trust. At the same time, media organisations and civic groups must play an active role in holding both corporate and governmental stakeholders accountable to the public. Can we, as a society that values progress and justice forge a path that balances these imperatives?
Role of civil society and media
An essential element of this vision in Zimbabwe is the active involvement of civil society and the media. For decades, Zimbabwean journalists have been the custodians of truth, often risking their safety to ensure society remains informed and empowered.
Today, they face a novel adversary: the mighty, often inscrutable algorithms that underpin AI. In this new battleground, investigative journalists must uncover not only the benefits of AI, but also its hidden costs.
They must ask the difficult questions: Who is watching our data? How are decisions being made? And what are the long-term implications for democracy and personal freedom?
- Hidden dangers of AI (II)
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Such scrutiny is not merely an academic exercise; it is a moral imperative. Critical reporting on AI practices can spark public debates, influence policy decisions, and ultimately safeguard the interests of citizens. Zimbabwe’s vibrant civil society, long accustomed to challenging authority in the quest for truth, is uniquely positioned to lead this charge.
In an era where digital misinformation can spread faster than any newspaper column, the role of responsible journalism has never been more vital. Should we allow our voices to be drowned out by algorithms, or must we insist on a public sphere where accountability is paramount?
Global implications at a local scale
While the dilemmas posed by AI are universal, their implications take on a distinctly local flavour in Zimbabwe. Global tech giants arguably view markets in the global south primarily as revenue streams, with little regard for the socio-economic and cultural contexts in which their systems will operate.
In Zimbabwe, this can mean deployed technologies do not always consider local norms, histories, or needs. For instance, data collected from our communities may be used to inform algorithms that are primarily designed for Western consumers, resulting in recommendations and decisions that are neither relevant nor beneficial to local users.
This disconnect can deepen the sense of alienation felt by many Zimbabweans as they navigate modernity. How can a nation thrive if its citizens are subject to the dictates of systems developed in distant boardrooms?
The challenge, then, is to ensure that AI technologies are not only technically robust but also culturally and contextually sensitive. This calls for an approach that incorporates local expertise from community leaders, academics, and technologists alike into the design, implementation, and oversight of AI systems. Isn’t it time for Zimbabwe to reclaim its narrative and demand that technology works for us, rather than the other way around?
Confronting corporate concealment
It is perhaps the most insidious aspect of this technological revolution that companies responsible for developing and deploying AI often conceal critical information from the very users they purport to serve.
In glossy brochures and polished press releases, the risks associated with data leakage, misinformation, and algorithmic unpredictability are downplayed or completely omitted. This selective transparency ensures that public discourse is skewed, leaving consumers in a state of blind trust that is both unwarranted and dangerous.
What does it say about a society when those entrusted with our digital futures hide behind corporate jargon while exposing us to potential harm? The answer is clear: we must demand better.
In Zimbabwe, where transparency and accountability have long been contested issues, the proliferation of opaque AI systems only reinforces the need for rigorous oversight.
Legislators, in consultation with independent experts, must enforce strict standards that require AI companies to disclose the procedures by which they collect and use data, the inherent risks involved and the measures in place to mitigate these risks. Is it too much to ask for absolute clarity in an age of digital complexity?
A call to action
It is time to move beyond passive acceptance of AI’s creeping influence and instead embrace a proactive stance that ensures technology serves the public interest. For Zimbabwe, this means instituting robust measures that protect individual privacy, ensure the accuracy of information, and promote equitable digital literacy.
Education plays a pivotal role here. Schools, universities, and community organisations should work together to develop curricula that demystify AI and impart the skills needed to navigate this new landscape critically.
Furthermore, regulatory frameworks must evolve to keep pace with technological innovation. This involves not only crafting laws that protect citizens from potential abuses but also fostering collaboration between the government, civil society, and the private sector.
If AI companies continue to prioritise profit over public welfare, then it falls upon us, the people, to insist on accountability. Can we, as Zimbabweans, afford to be mere spectators in this unfolding drama, or must we rise and shape the destiny of our digital future?
Imagining a digital future
Let us begin to imagine a future where the benefits of AI are harnessed without compromising the values that bind our communities together.
Picture a Zimbabwe where every citizen is digitally literate, where individuals are empowered with the knowledge to protect their personal data and critically assess the information they consume.
In such a future, AI could serve as a tool to enrich our cultural heritage, foster economic development and strengthen democratic institutions, all while honouring the sovereignty of the individual.
This vision, however, cannot be realised by technology companies operating in global isolation. It requires a concerted effort from all quarters of society. Local tech entrepreneurs, who understand the unique challenges and opportunities present in Zimbabwe, must be given the platform and resources to develop AI solutions that are tailored to our needs.
Simultaneously, global tech giants must be held to account for the externalities of their innovations, ensuring that their pursuit of profit does not come at the expense of public trust and social stability.
Striking the right balance
Innovation has always been a double-edged sword. The very technology that propels societies forward can also, if left unchecked, become a source of profound disruption.
It is incumbent upon us to strike the right balance to embrace the transformative potential of AI while remaining ever vigilant of its risks. In this contest between rapid technological progress and the timeless need for accountability, dialogue and debate are our most potent weapons.
Through sustained public discourse, we can shine a light on practices that undermine our collective well-being and drive meaningful reform in the way technology is deployed.
The challenges outlined here are not merely abstract concerns for the distant future; they are pressing issues that affect everyday life in Zimbabwe. From small business owners to prominent public figures, from university students to elderly citizens new to digital communication, everyone stands to be impacted by the hidden dangers of AI.
Is it not our collective responsibility to ensure that technology remains a servant of society, and not its master?
A path forward
How should we proceed in the face of these daunting challenges? The answer lies in collective vigilance and informed debate.
We must engage in open, honest discussions about the true cost of technological advancement and insist on transparency at every level from the boardrooms of multinational corporations to the corridors of local government.
Public forums, community debates, and academic research must converge in a shared effort to interpret the implications of AI for our lives.
Moreover, as citizens, we must empower ourselves by seeking out knowledge and developing a nuanced understanding of the technologies that increasingly shape our realities.
Digital literacy is not a luxury reserved for the elite; it is a fundamental right that must be upheld if we are to safeguard our identities, our privacy, and our democracies against the encroachment of unchecked AI systems.
As we engage in this critical conversation, we must continuously ask ourselves: Who benefits from this technology, and at what cost?
Questions to ponder
What will be the legacy we leave for future generations? Will Zimbabwe be a nation that allows its citizens to be subtly manipulated by machines that learn from every scrap of data, or will we be known for our resilience and refusal to accept a future dictated entirely by algorithms?
Can we, as a society, mobilise the necessary political will and intellectual rigour to demand more accountable practices from global tech giants? And perhaps most importantly, how do we ensure that our cultural, social and political identities are not eroded by a digital revolution that seems to prioritise profit over people?
We must demand accountability
The rapid rise of AI presents us with a crossroads. On one path lies the promise of technological marvels — a future where efficiency, creativity, and progress abound.
On the other path looms the spectre of data leakage, misinformation, unpredictability and a digital landscape inundated with inauthentic content. The truths that lie hidden behind corporate gloss are too significant to be ignored, particularly for a society as richly diverse and resilient as Zimbabwe.
We must not allow corporate interests to dictate the terms of our digital existence. Instead, we ought to demand accountability, transparency and a commitment to safeguarding our digital rights that are as vital in the modern age as ever before.
By fostering informed debate, championing digital literacy and insisting upon regulatory reforms, we can steer a course that embraces innovation without sacrificing integrity.
Is it too much to ask that those who profit from our personal data prove that they have our best interests at heart? It is high time that we, as Zimbabweans, reclaim our narrative.
We must refuse to be passive consumers of a technology that sees us as mere data points, and instead assert our right to control our digital destinies. The future is not predetermined by algorithms; it is shaped by the informed, critical choices we make today.
- Dr Sagomba specialises in AI, ethics and policy research, AI governance and is a policy consultant, Ethics of War and Peace research consultant, political philosophy and is also a chartered marketer. — [email protected]. Social media handles: LinkedIn: @Dr Evans Sagomba and X: @esagomba
