Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
ESTABLISHING ethical frameworks for developing and deploying Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the media and communication space are critical in ensuring transparency, fairness and accountability which are the cornerstones of reportage as the country moves to align itself with the ever changing digital world.
This was highlighted by the Minister of Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Dr Jenfan Muswere on the occasion of the 11th Annual International Conference on Communication and Information Science, which is running under the theme “Re-imagining Communication and Information Science in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI)” National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Bulawayo.
“It is important to note that the increased application of AI in communication and information science raises ethical concerns such as biases in data usage and discriminatory communication practices.
We must bear in mind the irreplaceable role of human connection, as effective communication relies not just on sharing information but also on understanding, empathy and shared experiences.
“Therefore, the conference must help us to establish ethical frameworks for developing and deploying AI in the media space to ensure transparency, fairness, and accountability,” said Dr Muswere.
Dr Muswere implored the conference to table solutions that influence Government policy in the application of AI in communication and information science.
“Innovations to be presented during the conference must be developed into tools which will enhance the effectiveness of media industry in communicating national development aspirations and milestones.
Minister Dr Jenfan Muswere
May this conference continue to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among experts in communication, information science, and artificial intelligence to foster innovation and tackle complex challenges,” he said.
Dr Muswere also highlighted that AI has been a perennial component of the Information Communication Technology (ICT) economy and is not a new feature of the digital ecology.
“Perhaps, the current significance amplification of AI is a dominantly market-driven phenomenon rather than it is not a new feature of our interaction with technology. To this end, I posit that AI should not be treated as an abstract concept.
Instead, it must be noted that AI is as old as the advent of internet connectivity and information science. This explains why in the last decade (s) algorithms and hashtags have been key drivers of cyber-anchored agenda settings. Based on this view, it may be rational to consider google as the mother of the now trendy AI,” added Dr Muswere.
He highlighted Zimbabwe and the rest of the Global South must use AI to promote heritage-based aspects of their development saying the conversations from conference will go beyond the prescriptive call for the embracement of AI.
“It is my wish that the discussions to follow will guide the nation and the continent towards alternative solutions proffering to the prominence being given to AI,” he said.
Dr Muswere said Africans have been second-hand consumers of technology and deliberations at the conference must negotiate a humanistic reposition of the continent not to be just a product and discourse consumer of the West.
“Instead, we must be product and discourse makers for the good of humanity. In the process, we must reverse the West’s hegemonic feed of the continent and its people. Our embracement of AI must be heritage-based and affirm our identity. We must not shy away from aspiring to be curators of the digital ecology. At the same time, we must commit to breaking the Global-North and Global-South communication divide,” he said.
He said the wide and contemporary proliferation of AI must promote African based algorithms, African generated software, technological gadgets and social media platforms.
Beyond the narrow embracement of AI, Dr Muswere said it is vital to consider Africanising AI which will include the linguistic configuration of the digital economy to embrace African languages and communities.
He further said since the invention of the printing press to the rise of the internet, each technological development has redefined the landscape of information production and sharing.
He said the prominence placed on Artificial Intelligence presents an epochal reform to the communication sector adding that this reform must be embedded in the aspirations and not of those who feed on the under-development of other nations to maintain their dominance in all spheres of human existence.
Based on this perspective arising from the “Fees Must Fall and Rhodes Must Fall Movement”, The Minister said centres of higher learning must paradigm shift drivers and locomotives for socio-economic transformation.
“This pragmatic functionality of the university has been exceptionally executed by His Excellency President Cde Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa through the establishment of Innovation Hubs in all our tertiary institutions.
As the captain of pro-development knowledge proliferation and the Chancellor of all State Universities in Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D Mnangagwa has approved generous treasury support to institutions of higher learning to produce knowledge which is responsive to the national development target for an upper-middle income economy by 2030,” he highlighted. @NyembeziMu
