Africa's Rising Impact on the Formulation of the EU Artificial Intelligence Agreement
In the global landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Africa is making strides towards establishing its own regulatory framework, with an eye towards regional integration and a unified voice. Within the East African Community (EAC), Kenya is considering the development of AI regulations to further regional integrations, including a potential monetary union. This move towards harmonised AI legislation is not unique to Kenya, as various African countries are actively engaging in similar efforts to tailor regulations to local needs. The European Union (EU) has taken a lead in this area, supporting initiatives aimed at generative AI solutions across Africa. These efforts are focused on sectors like agriculture, healthcare, infrastructure, and digital skills, indicating a continent-wide collaboration to address AI challenges. The EU has also drafted a treaty aimed at ensuring AI is ethical and trustworthy, the EU AI Treaty. This treaty outlines global standards for responsible AI development and deployment. However, Africa's involvement in the drafting process remains uncertain, which could potentially mean the treaty lacks local perspectives. Notably, the treaty was drafted with contributions from countries outside the EU, including the US, Argentina, Israel, Japan, and Uruguay. This raises the question of whether Africa's absence could exacerbate data dependency on foreign technology and data. Mauritius and Egypt are the only African countries to have formulated AI laws, while South Africa, Nigeria, and Kenya have initiated plans to create regulatory frameworks. The lack of comprehensive AI regulation in many African countries presents ethical challenges, particularly in the area of diversity in datasets used for AI development. This lack of diversity could impede the adoption of AI on the continent and disproportionately affect African populations and minority groups. The Malabo Convention, ratified by the African Union (AU) in 2023, provides a guide for AI policy on the continent. However, it is not sufficient to address the rapidly evolving AI sector. Regulators worldwide are struggling to create rules for the AI sector due to the rapid pace of advancements. Africa's role in shaping the EU AI Treaty is crucial to ensure local perspectives are considered. Without Africa's involvement, it is unlikely that companies involved in AI development would consider establishing a presence on the continent. This could potentially leave Africa behind in the global AI race. Regional economic blocs such as the EAC or the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) could consider developing regional frameworks to address these challenges. The African Institute for Data Science (AIDS) is promoting responsible data practices and has programs designed to help African states build capacity for AI. In conclusion, Africa has a significant role to play in shaping the future of AI. By collaborating and establishing a regional framework, Africa can draw lessons from the EU AI Treaty and ensure that AI development is ethical, trustworthy, and tailored to local needs.
