MISA Regional Director Dr Tabani Moyo has underscored the need for cross-disciplinary and cross-sector collaboration among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and communities to ensure ethical development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Dr Moyo was speaking at the Participatory AI Research and Practice Symposium, which took place virtually on 30 January 2025 in preparation for the Paris AI Action Summit 2025. The Summit will be held in France in February 2025.
In his presentation on: Participatory Approach to Ethical AI Development and Deployment—Prioritising Data Sovereignty and PWD Rights, he noted that indigenous knowledge in Africa remains hugely undigitised.
“There is a pressing need for a model that ensures private companies and communities negotiate the exchange of knowledge to mutually benefit the communities rather than adopting an extractive approach that worsens the power imbalances between the global North and South, rooted in colonial legacies,” he said.
Dr Moyo said MISA supports the African Union’s (AU) approach in negotiating the development and deployment of Afrocentric AI, which reflects African identities, acknowledging the necessity for scale and influence when dealing with platforms and countries that are ahead of the curve.
He said the AU had taken commendable steps by developing the AU AI Strategy and Digital Compact, which resulted from extensive consultations that MISA contributed to.
The MISA Regional Director emphasised the need for the AU to engage with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to create a responsive and competitive framework for member states’ uptake in the implementation of the same.
“In November 2024, we participated in the global discussions at the OECD-African Union AI Dialogue 2.0: From Strategy to Implementation… This highlights the necessity of inclusivity in advancing the agenda of the AU AI strategy.
“There is no better approach for me than positioning previously marginalised communities at the centre of this technology, as they constitute the largest segment of the global population. The benefits unlocked by a technology that addresses their needs are unparalleled,” said Dr Moyo.
The Symposium sought to foster dialogue and collaboration, integrating participatory approaches and developing protective frameworks for diverse communities.
This was aimed at ensuring that AI systems are not only technically robust but also ethically sound, socially beneficial, and genuinely reflective of diverse perspectives and needs.
Key Themes and Discussions:
The Symposium addressed a range of critical topics related to participatory AI, including:
- The Art of Participatory AI: Discussions explored the various interpretations of participatory AI and centred on a case study where emphasis was placed on the importance of including marginalised and under-represented communities in these processes.
- Strategies for including public voices: The presentation, showcased innovative methods and tools for facilitating meaningful participation, such as community-based design workshops, participatory data collection. It also highlighted the current power dynamics which call for a more literate approach.
- Case Studies and Best Practices: The symposium featured real-world case studies of participatory AI projects across Australia, Nigeria and South Africa. These examples provided valuable insights into participatory approaches’ practical challenges and opportunities.
- Bridging the Gap between Research and Practice: A key focus of the symposium was on bridging the gap between research and practice in participatory AI.
The Symposium highlighted the critical significance of participation in aligning AI systems with human values and the common good. Meaningful participation requires the inclusion of diverse voices and perspectives, particularly those from marginalised and underrepresented communities.
Participants underscored the need for clear ethical frameworks and guidelines to steer the development and deployment of participatory AI. It was emphasised that participatory AI is an ongoing process that demands continual learning, adaptation, and reflection.
Several key recommendations emerged from the discussions at the Symposium, advocating for increased investment in participatory AI research.
This should focus on methods, tools, and ethical frameworks crucial for developing an inclusive trajectory for AI development and deployment. Additionally, practical guidelines and resources should be designed and developed to support the implementation of participatory AI across various contexts.
Fostering AI literacy among diverse communities is essential for empowering effective engagement in participatory AI processes. Platforms and mechanisms should be established to encourage collaboration among researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and community members engaged in this field.
Dr Moyo was part of a four-member panel that included Future of Society’sTereza Zoumpalova, Akintunde Babatunde of the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development, and Amina A. Abdu, University of Michigan.
MISA Regional Communique
