The African Observatory on Responsible AI (AORAI), which collaborates with Cameroon, Senegal, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda, has unveiled its 2022-2023 technical report, shedding light on significant advancements and future directions in AI governance, gender inclusion, and community building across the African continent. Established in 2022 under the Global Center on AI Governance, the AORAI is dedicated to promoting African voices, experiences, and value systems in global discussions around responsible AI, particularly in the context of Africa’s colonial and post-colonial memory.
AORAI has recognized the critical need to embed African experiences and cultural values in the global conversation around AI ethics. Scholars in the social sciences and humanities stress that an ‘African’ view on AI is essential for ensuring the technology supports African societies and avoids potential harms. AORAI’s work focuses on inclusive and responsible AI governance, considering Africa’s diverse democratic, constitutional, and legal frameworks.
In collaboration with regional partners, the African Observatory undertakes various activities to build capacity and visibility for African AI research. These activities include policy engagement and science communication to foster a better understanding of AI’s implications and governance needs, as well as rigorous research to inform AI policy and practice. Additionally, AORAI creates platforms for dialogue and collaboration among AI stakeholders in Africa and builds the skills and knowledge required to responsibly harness AI for the continent’s development. The organization aims to enhance the positive impacts of AI while mitigating its negative effects through research, policy capacity building, and public engagement. AORAI advances policies that support diverse African societies in safely leveraging AI’s benefits to achieve development goals.
AORAI places a strong emphasis on gender and diversity transformation in AI. Recognizing that responsible AI cannot be achieved without integrating women’s experiences, the Observatory has launched several initiatives to promote gender inclusion. These initiatives include the Women in Focus series, which celebrates the achievements of African women in AI and creates a supportive community. The Observatory also conducts intersectional research examining the gendered implications of AI, including a landscape study on AI policies in Southern Africa and their impact on women. Additionally, AORAI partners with the African Centre on Technology Studies to offer short courses on the intersection of gender and AI for PhD students and supports digital rights advocacy platforms like My Data Rights to develop gender-responsive AI policies.
Building the evidence base for responsible AI, AORAI has funded research by regional collaborators and consultants focusing on social justice, AI governance, and the ethical implications of AI in various African contexts. The Observatory has developed a research directory serving as a central repository for AI4D-affiliated research outputs, promoting knowledge exchange and collaboration among researchers.
The African Observatory has made significant efforts to shape inclusive AI governance. This includes developing a policy and governance map to support knowledge exchange among African AI policymakers and advisors, and partnering with UNESCO to produce reports on AI policies and use in Southern Africa, providing insights into the state of AI governance in the region. AORAI also leads the development of Readiness Assessment Methodology reports for nine countries in Southern and Eastern Africa to support the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of AI.
Community building is another focus of AORAI, which seeks to establish a network of scholars, policymakers, and practitioners working on AI ethics and policy in Africa. The Observatory engages with the broader community through an online presence, social media, and newsletters. Looking ahead, AORAI aims to continue supporting African AI policy processes, contributing to the Global Index on Responsible AI, and monitoring the implementation of UNESCO’s ethical AI guidelines.
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