OPINION

By Eng. Irene Kaggwa

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force, reshaping industries, economies and societies worldwide. AI is a concept that was coined in the 1950s, but has become prominent over the last couple of years with developments in computational systems and the volumes of data collected because of increased digitisation.

So, what is AI?

AI is a branch of computer science focused on replicating human intelligence in machines, enabling them to perform cognitive tasks like humans. An AI system relies on a computer, an application with algorithms and a knowledge database.

AI has advanced through machine learning, natural language processing and computer vision. Machine learning allows computers to learn from experience and make decisions by detecting patterns in data.

Deep learning, a type of machine learning, processes various data resources using artificial neural networks inspired by the human brain. Natural language processing helps machines to interpret human language, and computer vision enables them to analyse visual information from images and videos.

Are robots AI?

A robot is a programmable machine that can perform tasks according to specific instructions, often without human involvement. By integrating AI programmes, robots can become smarter and handle more advanced tasks.

This integration has led to the development of human-like robots known as humanoids. Humanoids mimic human behaviour, movements and interactions by combining AI with robotic technology. They are utilised in various sectors such as healthcare, education, hospitality, industry and entertainment.

How can AI support development?

AI is increasingly present all around us — in our daily lives, homes, and workplaces.

The key attraction of AI is gathering and analysing massive amounts of data at high speed to help solve complex problems, while saving time and effort, and making our daily lives more convenient as well as improving productivity and efficiency.

Examples of AI use cases in daily lives include digital assistants (e.g. Siri, Alexa, NSSF’s Sanyu, etc), navigation apps (Google Maps), image recognition for face unlocking on some mobile phones and autonomous/self-driving cars. Platforms such as Uber use AI algorithms to match riders with drivers, optimise routes and determine pricing based on factors such as demand and traffic conditions.

Organisations are increasingly adopting AI to enhance their efficiency, reduce costs and ensure worker safety, particularly in factory environments. AI technology can automate repetitive or mundane tasks, performing them at a high speed and on a 24/7 basis.

This boosts organisational efficiency and productivity while allowing human workers to concentrate on other crucial or more intricate responsibilities that demand human skills such as critical thinking, empathy and problem-solving.

AI also plays a crucial role in enabling businesses to deliver personalised experiences to their customers, tailored to their preferences and behaviours. For instance, online platform owners leverage AI to shape your online activities during internet searches by presenting targeted advertisements and displaying information that aligns with your interests.

With its ability to analyse vast amounts of data, identify patterns, and provide accurate predictions, AI has the potential to foster the achievement of various UN Sustainable Development Goals, especially in the healthcare, agriculture, education, transportation, finance (banking, insurance, credit facilities, fraud detection) and manufacturing sectors.

In the field of healthcare, AI offers significant contributions in early disease detection, enabling doctors to gain valuable insights for developing personalised treatment plans based on patients’ medical history, symptoms and genetic profile.

This leads to improved outcomes and patient care. Voice-based chatbots can also be seamlessly integrated into healthcare systems to assist with preliminary patient screening and addressing their concerns. Moreover, AI’s capabilities extend to forecasting and tracking disease epidemics, empowering healthcare professionals with timely information for proactive measures and interventions.

In the realm of agriculture, AI plays a crucial role in empowering farmers with efficient monitoring capabilities for soil and crop health, water management, pest and disease control. It assists in determining optimal planting and harvesting times, as well as distinguishing between crops and weeds during weeding and harvesting processes. Rather than blanket pesticide spraying, AI enables the precise assessment of individual plants and targeted application of herbicides to those in need.

Furthermore, AI contributes to enhancing financial and insurance services for agriculture, streamlining access to agricultural inputs, managing labour and workloads, conducting quality testing of farm outputs, organising farmer data for traceability and providing platforms for connecting farmers with markets.

What are the common fears about AI?

Notwithstanding the positive potential impact of AI on society, there are concerns that AI is a threat to human employment opportunities; that it facilitates misinformation (including creating convincing fake images and deepfakes videos), threatens privacy, upending of social relationships and can be abused for malicious purposes or to perpetuate societal biases and discrimination.

The high level of abuse and limitations of Open AI’s chatbot ChatGPT, especially in light of its provision of incorrect answers in some cases, exacerbate these concerns significantly. Other concerns include the protection and attribution of intellectual property and dependency of users to the detriment of critical thinking.

AI in Uganda

Several countries have formulated their national AI strategic plans to leverage the potential of artificial intelligence.

In Uganda, the National Task Force on the Fourth Industrial Revolution has devised and presented a comprehensive National Strategy on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) to the Government. The primary aim of this strategy is to facilitate the integration of AI into Uganda’s development agenda.

A crucial aspect emphasised in the 4IR Strategy is the establishment of an ethical AI framework to ensure the responsible and secure design and implementation of AI technologies in the country.

The Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is taking the lead in co-ordinating the development of this comprehensive framework, which will address various ethical and governance considerations surrounding AI in Uganda. This initiative is also aligned with global best practices in AI ethics and governance.

This notwithstanding, there has been the notable adoption of the technology by entities in the Government and private sector. Various tertiary institutions have also developed academic programmes to address the human capacity development associated with the development and harnessing of AI in Uganda.

However, there is need for greater collaboration between the Government, academia, private sector and other stakeholders to fully realise the benefits AI presents to Uganda and its people.

The writer is acting executive director, Uganda Communications Commission