By Igbotako Nowinta
Abraka, Delta State, Nigeria – Prof. Cyrille Ngamen Kouassi, has advised African scholars in the Arts and Humanities not to panic or be overwhelmed by the apparent successes of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Rather, Prof. Kouassi, who is the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, Glorious Vision University, Ogwa, Edo State advised that African scholars should and must remain focused through their methodologies and manners of approach to knowledge acquisition, saying AI is a tool of Western capitalism.
The renowned Professor of Ethics, Cultural and Political Philosophy made this call at Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State, last Wednesdya during a lecture with the theme: “ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE {AI} AND THE HUMANITIES IN AFRICA: MATTERS ARISING”, which he delivered at the 6th Biennial International Conference organized by the Institution’s Faculty of Arts.
Prof. Kouassi, the lead speaker at the conference, who equated AI with globalization and capitalism, said African states have not in any significant form benefited from globalization, that genuine globalization remains a myth for them, even as African states are only objects of a globalized western hegemony.
According to the erudite scholar: “Genuine globalization has failed to transform the African world technologically by making each region of the world share from its claimed enormous benefits.
“Genuine globalization has remained a myth because it flows from the North to Africa and not from Africa to the rest of the world in areas that share African relevance and contribution to the world such as science and technology through AI… It is an opportunity to portray the “Humanism’’ of the Humanities as genuine catalyst for the socio-educational development of the 21st century Africa.”
In articulating deeply that AI is a tool of Western capitalism, Prof. Ngamen Kouassi was very incisive:
“I have also attempted to establish a clear connection between AI, globalization and capitalism. Consequently, this raises questions as far as genuine development and progress of Africa through AI is concerned.
“AI being a product of capitalism and thereafter Western ideology, has made the African continent to ‘‘give’’ too much and ‘‘receive’’ very little from science and technology. Unless African people want to shift their attention from what is necessary, important and fundamental to what is fanciful and fashionable, I do not think that currently AI is our priority.
“Africa cannot effectively sustain AI for now because not only it is a Western ideology, and true globalization remains a ‘‘myth’’ on African soil. Africa has not sufficiently benefited from the proceeds of globalization and will not even in the nearest future no matter how positively and beautifully defined. So, the issue of AI in Africa should be handled with ‘‘hand gloves/caution.’’
He went further: “As a matter of fact, not every appetizing food that is edible. Moreso, the AI being celebrated by the west today also passed through many stages of development. History should be allowed to take its course and Africa should not be an exception.
“After all, progress and development are inter-generational…In fact, the ability to make connections between different concepts and ideas is the foundation of interdisciplinary research. So, today interdisciplinary research is being perceived as the most effective way of tackling intricate socio-economic problems and is now being considered the best way to develop new knowledge streams.”
Prof. Kouassi frankly emphasized: “By working collaboratively and pooling their knowledge and skills, researchers can achieve fresh insights, creative solutions and innovative breakthroughs that would not have been possible through conventional, discipline-specific approaches.
“However, despite the fact that interdisciplinary research remains a very welcome development, the Arts and Humanities still stand tall and unique and therefore, should not be over-powered by science and technology through AI.”
The scholar concluded thus: “It is obvious that AI has made some giant and undeniable strides as could be seen in the film industry, music, linguistics and theatre arts to mention but a few. However, ironically, most of the setbacks of AI are still found in the Arts and Humanities.
“In other words, AI cannot reach its full potential today without the strong support and contributions of the Arts and Humanities. So, African scholars in the Arts and Humanities should not panic or be overwhelmed by the apparent successes of AI. Rather, they should and must remain focused through their methodologies and manners of approach to knowledge acquisition.”
The highly successful international conference equally witnessed presentation of papers by renowned scholars from within and outside the shores of Nigeria.
