As artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates faster than global governance structures can keep up, Daniel Novitzkas, chairman of Specno, is calling on Africa’s tech leaders to seize a historic opportunity: to shape the ethical future of AI – not just for the continent, but for the world.
“AI will transform every aspect of our lives, from education to healthcare, but without ethical guardrails, it could just as easily become a tool of exploitation,” says Novitzkas. “Africa has a once-in-a-generation opportunity to lead in defining a people-first, rights-based approach to AI governance. But it’s going to require vision, courage, and urgent action.”
He warns that while world powers are caught up in political contestation or proprietary gain, Africa’s recent progress offers a roadmap for responsible leadership.
“The African Union’s Data Policy Framework of 2022 already offers a compelling alternative to the surveillance-driven and profit-centric models of the Global North,” he notes. “We don’t have to start from scratch, we just have to commit to leading.”
Drawing on parallels with Africa’s mobile money revolution – which now accounts for 70% of global mobile money transactions – Novitzkas argues that the continent has already proven its ability to leapfrog outdated models with innovative, inclusive solutions.
“We’ve led before, and we can lead again,” he says. “But to do that, the tech industry must step up – not wait for governments to catch up. AI safety cannot be left to lagging legislation. It’s up to us, the people building the technology, to embed ethics into the systems we create.”
Novitzkas urges African universities, regional bodies, and private sector leaders to form collaborative alliances and invest in shaping AI governance with urgency. “If we wait, others will define the rules. But if we act now, Africa have the opportunity to become a global standard-bearer for ethical and inclusive AI.”