Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping industries worldwide, and Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment.
The potential benefits of AI are immense, from revolutionizing healthcare to boosting economic growth. However, without a robust regulatory framework, these benefits could be watered down, or even negated, by huge risks.
So, how is Nigeria set to follow the lead of other countries when it comes to introducing AI laws? Let’s take a look at where the country currently stands compared to others.
The need for regulation
AI is the most important digital development since the internet and has excited people all across the world, including Africa.
Nigeria is one of the countries at the forefront of the continent’s movement with experts there talking about how AI can revolutionize the finance, transportation, healthcare, and agribusiness sectors, to name just a few. It’s even led to some onlookers terming data, which AI feeds upon.
To use the example of healthcare, AI can improve diagnoses, enhance research, and aid in disease surveillance. For example, AI-powered tools are being tested to screen for cervical cancer in several African countries. However, without proper regulation, there is a risk of data misuse and privacy breaches.
Many of the same experts are urging Nigeria to develop a governance structure that oversees a safe and steady AI integration into society. Â Ricardo Baptista Leite, a leading advocate for AI regulation, believes Nigeria can play a pivotal role in shaping African AI standards as part of a collective of ECOWAS (Economic Community of Western African States) countries. He recently called for a framework that encourages institutions to work together to keep the technology safe for everyone and drive sustainable development.
However, regulation across Nigeria is complicated thanks to the country’s fragmented supervisory infrastructure. This is a common issue among Western countries: gambling regulation in Canada and the U.S., for example, also suffers from complications due to their jurisdiction-specific system, according to this source.
There are also several pitfalls that poor regulation could bring if ECOWAS countries fail to follow internationally recommended guidelines.
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The pitfalls of poor regulation
There’s a common train of thought that poor AI regulation is as bad as no regulation at all.
One major pitfall is the likelihood of data breaches and privacy violations. AI systems could be allowed to collect and misuse sensitive personal information if regulatory guidelines are unclear. This could lead to a rise in financial fraud or funding of harmful activities from bad actors in these countries.
Another concern is the risk of algorithmic bias. AI algorithms are not advanced enough to completely override biases present in the data they are trained on. Discriminatory outcomes, particularly in areas like healthcare and criminal justice, can put people’s lives at risk.
Poorly regulated AI development can also hinder innovation. Businesses may get cold feet over investing in AI projects if they know there’s legal uncertainty surrounding them. Development suffers and the general public starts to turn against the technology, which can even cause social unrest.
Any AI regulation in Nigeria or the rest of the ECOWAS region, then, must be comprehensive. The problem is, even countries claiming to be at the forefront of AI control, like the United States and the UK, are struggling to even establish what the best form of regulation looks like.
A bright Nigerian AI future?
If Nigeria successfully adopts and regulates AI, then the benefits are potentially huge. Getting AI right means making rapid technological advancement a reality, possibly improving the quality of life for millions of Nigerians.
In healthcare, AI could revolutionize diagnostics, treatment, and drug discovery. Personalized medicine, enabled by AI, could lead to more effective and targeted treatments for various diseases.
AI-powered systems can also vastly improve healthcare resource allocation so that everybody gets access to the healthcare they need.
Education would also see big advantages. Intelligent tutoring systems that personalize learning experiences would become available and help each individual study at their own pace. AI-powered tools would also help with administrative tasks so that teachers focus on more meaningful interactions with their students rather than paperwork.
In the agricultural sector, AI has already shown it can optimize crop yields, improve resource management, and detect diseases early. It can streamline supply chains, so that waste goes down and efficiency goes up.
In a world battling against the possibility of famine, this would increase food security and vastly reduce poverty and hunger.
What would be the result of all this on the economy? Well, the obvious answer is that it would drive economic growth by automating routine tasks and freeing up human capital for more creative and strategic endeavors. New industries and job opportunities could come to the fore, with humans focused on entrepreneurship.
While all this may seem like a pipe dream to many, it must surely be a goal to aim for. AI regulation is one of the vehicles to get there, but time will tell if Nigeria and other ECOWAS countries can achieve this.
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