Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa
Many ethical issues plague the field of AI, and several ethical solutions, mainly from the Global North, have been proposed. Among the issues inherent in ethical AI are bias and lack of diversity. Openair Africa reports, for example, an enormously low participation/visibility of women in today’s di...
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| Language: | English |
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University of Johannesburg
2025-01-01
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| Series: | The Thinker |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3950 |
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| author | Helen Titilola Olojede |
| author_facet | Helen Titilola Olojede |
| author_sort | Helen Titilola Olojede |
| collection | DOAJ |
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Many ethical issues plague the field of AI, and several ethical solutions, mainly from the Global North, have been proposed. Among the issues inherent in ethical AI are bias and lack of diversity. Openair Africa reports, for example, an enormously low participation/visibility of women in today’s digital world. World Economic Report states that worldwide, only about 22% of women are in the field of artificial intelligence compared to 78% of men. In the 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Report, women account for just 24%. The 2020 Gender Equality Index: Digitalisation and Future of Work also indicates that only one out of two women, 54%, perceive robots and AI positively compared to 67% of men. Thus, this paper discusses diversity and gender equality in AI from the African context. How should we safeguard AI systems from rehashing extant inequality? To what extent can we ensure AI eliminates bias
and fosters equality? To this end, this paper proposes a communal approach to the conception, design, development, and deployment of AI systems to address this abysmal situation towards a gender-smart and truly inclusive AI in Africa.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-be103f7c06b34241808e343b1c6bf6bb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2075-2458 2616-907X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | University of Johannesburg |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Thinker |
| spelling | doaj-art-be103f7c06b34241808e343b1c6bf6bb2025-01-30T09:01:17ZengUniversity of JohannesburgThe Thinker2075-24582616-907X2025-01-01101410.36615/2xj82139Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in AfricaHelen Titilola Olojede0National Open University of Nigeria Many ethical issues plague the field of AI, and several ethical solutions, mainly from the Global North, have been proposed. Among the issues inherent in ethical AI are bias and lack of diversity. Openair Africa reports, for example, an enormously low participation/visibility of women in today’s digital world. World Economic Report states that worldwide, only about 22% of women are in the field of artificial intelligence compared to 78% of men. In the 2022 Cybersecurity Workforce Report, women account for just 24%. The 2020 Gender Equality Index: Digitalisation and Future of Work also indicates that only one out of two women, 54%, perceive robots and AI positively compared to 67% of men. Thus, this paper discusses diversity and gender equality in AI from the African context. How should we safeguard AI systems from rehashing extant inequality? To what extent can we ensure AI eliminates bias and fosters equality? To this end, this paper proposes a communal approach to the conception, design, development, and deployment of AI systems to address this abysmal situation towards a gender-smart and truly inclusive AI in Africa. https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3950DiversityGender EqualityArtificial IntelligenceAfrica |
| spellingShingle | Helen Titilola Olojede Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa The Thinker Diversity Gender Equality Artificial Intelligence Africa |
| title | Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa |
| title_full | Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa |
| title_fullStr | Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa |
| title_short | Reflecting on Diversity and Gender Equality in Artificial Intelligence in Africa |
| title_sort | reflecting on diversity and gender equality in artificial intelligence in africa |
| topic | Diversity Gender Equality Artificial Intelligence Africa |
| url | https://journals.uj.ac.za/index.php/The_Thinker/article/view/3950 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT helentitilolaolojede reflectingondiversityandgenderequalityinartificialintelligenceinafrica |