In a thought-provoking discussion with host Sanjay Puri on the “Regulating AI” podcast, Dr. Shikoh Gitau, the founder and CEO of Kahala, shed light on the African perspective of AI regulation. The discussion included AI’s potential for the continent, and the importance of harnessing innovation while protecting human dignity. Dr. Gitau, whose career spans across various technological innovations and digital solutions for Africa, emphasized the crucial balance between fostering technological advancement and maintaining ethical safeguards in AI development.
“Every time I’m traveling, I hear people talk about AI as if it’s a nice-to-have, that it will increase productivity and efficiency,” said Dr. Gitau. “For us, it’s a matter of life and death.” She stressed that, as AI evolves, the responsibility to regulate and innovate must be handled with extreme care. “We don’t know where this technology is taking us,” she added, emphasizing the need for measures to protect human life while advancing innovation.
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Dr. Gitau was raised in Nakuru, Kenya, where she developed a love for mathematics and computer science. Her professional journey took her from the University of Cape Town to Google and Microsoft, where she honed her skills in building digital solutions for billions of people. Dr. Gitau’s exposure to global tech giants empowered her to return home and apply her knowledge to Africa’s most pressing challenges.
Today, through her company Kahala, Dr. Gitau is at the forefront of digital transformation on the continent, with a focus on utilizing AI for practical applications that improve the lives of Africans. One notable example is mobile money, which is widely used in Kenya. “In Kenya, we have the highest per capita use of digital financial services in the world,” she said. “If you’re able to use mobile money, how does that translate to AI? It determines how much money you can borrow based on your (mobile) behavior.” Dr. Gitau pointed out that AI is already being used in Africa in ways that have practical, real-world benefits.
While Western perspectives often focus on the flashier aspects of AI, such as robots or Oculus headsets, Dr. Gitau talks about how AI can manifest itself in more essential, everyday applications. “It’s about how am I applying this technology to my everyday life based on the infrastructure that I currently have,” she said, noting that AI’s potential in Africa lies in its accessibility, particularly with the high mobile phone penetration on the continent.
The conversation shifted towards how AI can also play a significant role in addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges. “For every 3,500 people, there’s one doctor,” Dr. Gitau explained. With AI, there is the potential to provide better healthcare services, such as first-line diagnoses through mobile platforms. “If I can take a photo of my disease (…) and send it to a bot that uses AI to provide me with a potential diagnosis, even at 80% accuracy, it’s better than no diagnosis at all,” she says.
Dr. Gitau is also deeply involved in the ongoing discussions around AI policy in Africa. She believes that regulation should not stifle innovation but should be implemented gradually as the technology unfolds. “What we need to do is put measures in place to protect human dignity and human lives, but on the other hand, allow for innovation to go and be built,” she said.
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Looking to the future, Dr. Gitau remains optimistic about Africa’s potential in AI. “It’s Africa’s moment to take that leap,” she said, seeing AI as a tool to elevate human flourishing in Africa, providing opportunities for development that have long been out of reach.
Dr. Gitau’s vision for AI is one where it’s a practical, enabling technology that empowers Africans to improve their lives. “When AI becomes practical, when it’s not just a hype word, that’s when we will truly see the impact of this technology on our continent,” she concluded.
Dr. Gitau left listeners with a powerful message: “Africa showed the world how to use the mobile phone; (…) and we are going to show the world how AI can actually improve people’s lives. Don’t be left behind in this journey.”