Feb 24
/
Naz
Bill Gates and poor Farmer in Kongo
How Can We Make Africa the New Europe?
I'm a staunch admirer of Bill and Melinda Gates. Their contributions through Microsoft have undeniably enriched our lives, yet I can't help but wish they'd flung open the doors to developers like Apple did, sparking more opportunities for those with big dreams but thin wallets.
Contrast that with Facebook. Zuckerberg's empire, built on data one'd argue was pilfered from classmates, promised to enhance our social fabric. Instead, 16 years down the line, we're staring at a generation half lost to isolation, with a disturbing spike in mental health issues among the youth. The difference isn't just stark; it's a chasm.
The Gates duo has poured fortunes into battling diseases in Africa, diseases the West has long forgotten. Noble, absolutely.
But is it enough to shift the needle towards sustainable change in Africa?
I have my doubts. Europe is aging, while Africa bursts with untapped potential.
The continent doesn't just need vaccines; it needs a revolution in education,
infrastructure, and investment and a proper governance. It needs governance that shuns corruption, upholds justice, and embraces gender equality and peace.
Can AI be the silver bullet? I'm skeptical.
Africa's salvation won't come from an app that tells a Congolese farmer his crops are healthy. It's a band-aid solution, a way for the West to ease its conscience after centuries of exploitation.
Africa's future hinges on disruptive leadership, supported genuinely by the West, not as tools for foreign agendas. Anything less is just window dressing, a superficial salve for deeper wounds.
WOMEN AI ACADEMY
Women AI Academy is a gender-equality and technology driven learning & development organization
Site Terms & Info
ETHOS AI Training & Consulting GmbH
Weihenstephanerstr.1281673
Munich-Germany
We are driven by the vision of making AI both ethical and accessible to everyone
Copyright © 2024 Brought to you by Ethos ai AI Training & Consultancy GmbH
Ali Hessami is currently the Director of R&D and Innovation at Vega Systems, London, UK. He has an extensive track record in systems assurance and safety, security, sustainability, knowledge assessment/management methodologies. He has a background in the design and development of advanced control systems for business and safety-critical industrial applications.
Hessami represents the UK on the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization (CENELEC) & International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) – safety systems, hardware & software standards committees. He was appointed by CENELEC as convener of several Working Groups for review of EN50128 Safety-Critical Software Standard and update and restructuring of the software, hardware, and system safety standards in CENELEC.
Ali is also a member of Cyber Security Standardisation SGA16, SG24, and WG26 Groups and started and chairs the IEEE Special Interest Group in Humanitarian Technologies and the Systems Council Chapters in the UK and Ireland Section. In 2017 Ali joined the IEEE Standards Association (SA), initially as a committee member for the new landmark IEEE 7000 standard focused on “Addressing Ethical Concerns in System Design.” He was subsequently appointed as the Technical Editor and later the Chair of P7000 working group. In November 2018, he was appointed as the VC and Process Architect of the IEEE’s global Ethics Certification Programme for Autonomous & Intelligent Systems (ECPAIS).
Trish advises and trains organisations internationally on Responsible AI (AI/data ethics, policy, governance), and Corporate Digital Responsibility.
Patricia has 20 years’ experience as a lawyer in data, technology and regulatory/government affairs and is a registered Solicitor in England and Wales, and the Republic of Ireland. She has authored and edited several works on law and regulation, policy, ethics, and AI.
She is an expert advisor on the Ethics Committee to the UK’s Digital Catapult Machine Intelligence Garage working with AI startups, is a Maestro (a title only given to 3 people in the world) and expert advisor “Maestro” on the IEEE’s CertifAIEd (previously known as ECPAIS) ethical certification panel, sits on IEEE’s P7003 (algorithmic bias)/P2247.4 (adaptive instructional systems)/P7010.1 (AI and ESG/UN SDGS) standards programmes, is a ForHumanity Fellow working on Independent Audit of AI Systems, is Chair of the Society for Computers and Law, and is a non-exec director on the Board of iTechlaw and on the Board of Women Leading in AI. Until 2021, Patricia was on the RSA’s online harms advisory panel, whose work contributed to the UK’s Online Safety Bill.
Trish is also a linguist and speaks fluently English, French, and German.
In 2021, Patricia was listed on the 100 Brilliant Women in AI Ethics™ and named on Computer Weekly’s longlist as one of the Most Influential Women in UK Technology in 2021.
Created with
