From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
As artificial intelligence (AI) technology advances, there are fears and excitement about what the future holds. Will it eliminate jobs or create new opportunities? Can it solve complex problems or become a threat to humanity?
The term artificial intelligence refers to the creation of computer systems that are capable of carrying out operations that ordinarily require human intelligence such as speech recognition, decision-making and language translation.
According to the president of Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), Professor Adesina Sodiya, AI is designed to learn from experience and improve over time, making it a powerful tool in many industries, including healthcare, finance and transportation.
“Artificial intelligence is just about creating systems that can mimic the intelligence of human beings. It is about creating systems that can do what humans do, creating systems that can actually even do things more than humans can. It is about creating systems that will not be bored, that will not be tired, systems that can do repetitive tasks faster, smarter than what humans will do. Creating systems that will not feel the hazards or stress that humans usually feel. To take away the risk from the jobs of humans,” Sodiya explained.
By automating repetitive processes and lowering the need for manual labor, ICT experts predict that AI will assist in enhancing efficiency in numerous industries. Businesses can save a lot of money and become more productive as a result of this.
Furthermore, AI is thought to have the power to completely transform the healthcare industry by facilitating more precise and timely disease diagnosis as well as more individualized treatment regimens.
Many different industries, including manufacturing and transportation, can benefit from the use of AI to increase safety. For instance, the amount of accidents brought on by human error may be decreased by self-driving cars.
AI has the potential to enable innovations and discoveries in a wide range of fields, from science and engineering to art and music, among others.
However, one of the biggest fears about AI is that it will lead to job losses. People are concerned that, as machines become more intelligent and capable, they may be able to perform tasks that were previously performed by humans, which could result in significant redundancy and unemployment.
There is also the worry that, as AI systems become more sophisticated and complicated, it may become harder for people to understand and manage them, which could have unexpected repercussions and create potentially hazardous circumstances.
Some experts have raised privacy concerns as well, stating that the ability of AI systems to collect and analyze vast amounts of personal data could soon lead to significant privacy concerns, particularly if this data falls into the wrong hands.
Similarly, there is the question of AI systems being biased, since they are only unbiased as the data they are trained on. If the data is biased, then the AI system will also be biased, potentially leading to discrimination and unfair treatment.
Mr. Somtoochukwu Ezioha, an AI digital marketing expert, described the new technology as a double-edged sword, with its array of advantages and a touch of disadvantages.
He said the ethical problems that come with creating virtual entities that mimic human thoughts and emotions are something to ponder as the world continues its journey into the awe-inspiring world of AI.
Validating one of the major fears of the latest technological innovation, Ezioha said: “AI’s efficiency could potentially steal the limelight from human workers, leading to job losses and a ripple effect on the economy. So, while we celebrate AI’s brilliance, it’s essential to remain vigilant and address its shortcomings.”
He noted, however, that “we should not forget the lessons of the past. Every technological leap has had its share of drama, yet it often ends with an encore of job creation.”
He further said: “Indeed, AI may outshine us in some repetitive tasks, but it sets the stage for human ingenuity to shine in areas like creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. The job market’s dance with AI and automation is a complicated tango, and predicting the exact steps is challenging.
“However, research suggests that, by 2025, machines could make 85 million jobs disappear, but in a twist of fate, they’ll create 97 million new ones tailored to the unique harmony between humans, machines, and algorithms. So, while there might be a few bumps along the way, there’s plenty of room for optimism.”
The ICT professional added that “AI will likely take centre stage in physically demanding monotonous roles, allowing humans to focus on more fulfilling and creative pursuits. And, as we partner with our AI counterparts, we’ll find new ways to boost productivity and drive economic growth.”
He noted that the important thing is remembering that AI is here to complement humans, not replace them, and recommended that, to stay in the spotlight, workers should focus on up-skilling, staying current in their fields, and embracing innovation and creativity.
“Despite its many talents, AI hasn’t mastered the art of creativity and emotional intelligence, limiting its performance in tasks that need a human touch. So, while the fear of AI stealing jobs is understandable, let’s look at the bigger picture and celebrate the exciting opportunities this dynamic duo of humans and AI can create together,” he said.
In adopting and deploying the new technology, Ezioha said it was essential for African countries like Nigeria to lay the groundwork for a spectacular show.
He said: “To ensure AI adoption benefits everyone, policymakers should focus on creating sustainable, local AI ecosystems that align with national development goals and foster inclusive, thriving societies.
“Governments must understand the dazzling advantages and potential consequences of AI disruption and respond to integrate it. African countries can tap into the magic of AI by nurturing a transparent, dynamic regulatory environment and revolutionizing education from primary to tertiary levels.”
He emphasized the need for data collection and storage infrastructure investments and incentives for businesses to get on the AI train and the importance of training programmes to equip professionals with AI skills they’ll need to function in the workforce.
“African countries must also develop their AI capabilities and expertise, instead of relying on the international talent pool for show-stopping performances.
“Policymakers should bring together diverse stakeholders, including local tech and data entrepreneurs, social justice groups, and communities directly affected by AI policies. By taking these steps, African countries can ensure AI adoption results in a standing ovation, contributing to sustainable development and inclusive growth,” he advised.
To enable the nation compete with the rest of the world in the area of AI and robotics, the NCS boss advised the government to invest hugely in local capacity to develop ICT.
“How many AI-driven solutions have we been able to develop in Nigeria? How many robots? The only one we got, sometime last year, was Obiefe and it is not even in the market again. It is not on public appearances again.
“So, we need to develop our own capacity and we are praying that government will support us, individuals, private organizations so that we will be able to develop our own capacity. It is not every time that we will continue to depend on foreign products.
“I keep telling people that in Nigeria, especially in the area of software development, we have people, we have capacity to develop any form of software that we need in this country. We are challenged in the area of hardware because of infrastructural requirements, electricity, cost of importing some of the items and so on and so forth. But in the area of software, definitely, we can do what we really need to do; with a little support from government and individuals, we will get there,” Sodiya said.
He lamented that the number of people in the area of AI and robotics in Nigeria was not above 3 percent, adding that the NCS was doing what it can to improve capacity and knowledge in the area but needs government’s support.
“In Nigeria today, up till now, the number of professionals in the area of AI and robotics, we have put it at 3 percent by our study, out of the total number of IT professionals that we have in this country. Not people that are saying it by mouth but people that can actually deliver in the area of AI and robotics.
“We need to continue to encourage our people. We need to encourage ourselves. We need to support ourselves so that we can develop. And move in the direction that will really assist this nation to be among the leading nations in the area of artificial intelligence and robotics among other nations in the world.
“I want to say that what we are doing in the Nigeria Computer Society, we started a programme last year, that is the AI and robotics summit. We started that programme so that we can as a nation continue to develop our capacity, our own knowledge, our own skills, in the area of AI and robotics. We are not there yet in this country,” Sodiya noted.
Kashifu Inuwa, the director-general of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), urged the global tech community to find ways to ensure that AI systems are developed in accordance with policies, regulations and laws, as AI becomes ingrained in people’s daily lives.
The government must ensure that there are ethics, codes and standards for anyone designing any system that will make decisions on its behalf or that the community must abide by, said Inuwa, who emphasized the importance of community inclusion in AI development.
According to him, “We need to stop looking at technology from either a consumer’s perspective in terms of where he buys and costs, or capitalists in terms of how to exploit or build products around it. We need to start looking at it from the citizen’s eyes, how it changes the way we live together, and how it can be used for the public good.
“We are saying that the government should co-create it with the ecosystem because the technology is new and evolving. You cannot regulate what you don’t know. Regulation is synonymous with putting a traffic light in a traffic place and you need to understand the traffic patterns before putting the traffic light.”
Inuwa added that Nigeria developed a Code of Practice for Interactive Computer Service Platforms/Internet Intermediaries in order to make the digital world safer for everyone, including children.
He added that the government’s goal with the code is to make sure that what is unlawful offline is also unlawful online by bringing Nigeria’s laws to the digital space.
