The janus face: the critical view of generative AI in Africa

This chapter is a critical reflection on the use of Generative AI in Africa’s media ecosystem. Informed by the view that technology should speak to local issues, we demonstrate that local communities are not part of the conversation of the use of Gen AI. More so, we argue that these technologies are western in nature, as they are made by people from the West. As a result, these technologies perpetuate bias and harm the marginalised communities. As a result, we call for the so-called marginalised communities to be part of the conversation, that is, making the technologies to shape the discourse and make them applicable to local situations. Our chapter’s arguments are hinged on Afrokology and Ubuntu philosophies.