Kofi
@kofiemeritus.bsky.social
Research Interest: Responsible AI in Global South | RTs ≠ endorsement
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve joined the newly formed SAIGE Council from @partnershipai.bsky.social, a multi-stakeholder community addressing the most important and difficult questions concerning the future of AI.
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
I’m thrilled to announce I’ve joined the newly formed SAIGE Council from @partnershipai.bsky.social, a multi-stakeholder community addressing the most important and difficult questions concerning the future of AI.
From the @thecontinent.org: "...the children appeared to be victims of a systematic recruitment operation that manipulated them into posting political slogans, insults directed at the Egyptian President, calls to open Gaza’s Rafah crossing..."
September 27, 2025 at 4:25 AM
From the @thecontinent.org: "...the children appeared to be victims of a systematic recruitment operation that manipulated them into posting political slogans, insults directed at the Egyptian President, calls to open Gaza’s Rafah crossing..."
"...the problem has proved beyond the algorithms. We know surprisingly little about our own biology. There are many mysteries in how our cells interact and challenges in measuring our body’s most crucial processes, starving models of the data they need to make more rapid progress."
on.ft.com/4pgIyqT
on.ft.com/4pgIyqT
Why is AI struggling to discover new drugs?
[FREE TO READ] A generation of start-ups have failed to live up to the hype. Executives are now betting that more powerful tools will crack the complexities of human biology
on.ft.com
September 13, 2025 at 9:27 PM
"...the problem has proved beyond the algorithms. We know surprisingly little about our own biology. There are many mysteries in how our cells interact and challenges in measuring our body’s most crucial processes, starving models of the data they need to make more rapid progress."
on.ft.com/4pgIyqT
on.ft.com/4pgIyqT
“States should think very carefully about what they actually want to get out of this before spending hundreds of billions of dollars trying to indigenize the entire AI stack. You still won’t be able to eliminate dependencies and vulnerabilities on foreign states.”
restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
The myth of sovereign AI: Countries rely on U.S. and Chinese tech
As countries pursue self-sufficiency in AI, they risk depending on foreign companies, undermining their independence and their goals.
restofworld.org
September 13, 2025 at 6:15 AM
“States should think very carefully about what they actually want to get out of this before spending hundreds of billions of dollars trying to indigenize the entire AI stack. You still won’t be able to eliminate dependencies and vulnerabilities on foreign states.”
restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
restofworld.org/2025/chinese...
"The ICT sector rose an annual 21.3% in the second quarter driven by DATA USAGE, said Iddrisu, helping the services industry to expand 9.9% from a revised 7.8% in the prior three months."
September 12, 2025 at 3:35 PM
"The ICT sector rose an annual 21.3% in the second quarter driven by DATA USAGE, said Iddrisu, helping the services industry to expand 9.9% from a revised 7.8% in the prior three months."
"...the process of getting a job has become a late-capitalist nightmare. Online hiring platforms have made it easier to find an opening but harder to secure one.."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
September 10, 2025 at 4:24 AM
"...the process of getting a job has become a late-capitalist nightmare. Online hiring platforms have made it easier to find an opening but harder to secure one.."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
"For SMEs, double-digit loan rates have made credit costly, while freelancers—some of whom rely on foreign contracts—have been squeezed by a slowdown in overseas deals that has eroded their incomes amid rising living costs." techcabal.com/2025/08/29/n...
Why Nairobi’s co-working spaces are losing to restaurants
Nairobi’s co-working spaces were touted as temples of Kenya’s innovation economy where young founders could incubate groundbreaking ideas.
techcabal.com
September 2, 2025 at 6:49 PM
"For SMEs, double-digit loan rates have made credit costly, while freelancers—some of whom rely on foreign contracts—have been squeezed by a slowdown in overseas deals that has eroded their incomes amid rising living costs." techcabal.com/2025/08/29/n...
Reposted by Kofi
we at @aial.ie, are investigating amplification/censorship on X/twitter in EU. what are major EU:
-politicians & regulators
-journalists
-influencers & public intellectuals, with high visibility/influence on X, across both left & right political ideologies
we're interested in existing datasets too
-politicians & regulators
-journalists
-influencers & public intellectuals, with high visibility/influence on X, across both left & right political ideologies
we're interested in existing datasets too
July 23, 2025 at 12:56 PM
we at @aial.ie, are investigating amplification/censorship on X/twitter in EU. what are major EU:
-politicians & regulators
-journalists
-influencers & public intellectuals, with high visibility/influence on X, across both left & right political ideologies
we're interested in existing datasets too
-politicians & regulators
-journalists
-influencers & public intellectuals, with high visibility/influence on X, across both left & right political ideologies
we're interested in existing datasets too
"What is missing is a preventive, policy-driven architecture that ensures content moderation practices are humane, companies are accountable for their algorithms, and corporate actors cannot hide behind layers of subcontracting to escape responsibility."
blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/...
Three lawsuits against Meta in Kenya expose the digital governance gap in Africa - Africa at LSE
The internet giant Meta is facing legal challenges that could change the way we think about legal jurisdiction and corporate responsibility in the digital age, writes Mumbi Kiragu. Kenya has emerged a...
blogs.lse.ac.uk
July 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
"What is missing is a preventive, policy-driven architecture that ensures content moderation practices are humane, companies are accountable for their algorithms, and corporate actors cannot hide behind layers of subcontracting to escape responsibility."
blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/africaatlse/...
Reposted by Kofi
If I can give you any advice about anything it would be this - do everything in your power to protect yourself from being governed by people who hate you.
July 7, 2025 at 8:02 PM
If I can give you any advice about anything it would be this - do everything in your power to protect yourself from being governed by people who hate you.
"But the war for talent is not just about output — it’s about perception. A start-up’s ability to attract investors and a listed company’s ability to keep its stock price up are both aided by the buzz generated by a few superstar minds."
www.ft.com/content/9e9f...
www.ft.com/content/9e9f...
What’s behind the AI talent gold rush?
Eye-watering payments show how hard it is for tech companies to build a competitive moat
www.ft.com
June 20, 2025 at 4:43 PM
"But the war for talent is not just about output — it’s about perception. A start-up’s ability to attract investors and a listed company’s ability to keep its stock price up are both aided by the buzz generated by a few superstar minds."
www.ft.com/content/9e9f...
www.ft.com/content/9e9f...
Reposted by Kofi
New publication alert! The Challenges of Accountability in AI for Immigration: The IRCC and Canadian AI Governance
balsilliecases.ca/case-study/t...
balsilliecases.ca/case-study/t...
June 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
New publication alert! The Challenges of Accountability in AI for Immigration: The IRCC and Canadian AI Governance
balsilliecases.ca/case-study/t...
balsilliecases.ca/case-study/t...
Starlink's expansion across markets in Africa and other Global South countries have raised concerns about digital exclusion - high prices and more users within high-income communities, but there are much bigger regulatory and geopolitical implications we might be underestimating.
May 27, 2025 at 11:41 AM
Starlink's expansion across markets in Africa and other Global South countries have raised concerns about digital exclusion - high prices and more users within high-income communities, but there are much bigger regulatory and geopolitical implications we might be underestimating.
"The group said it would strike the overseas deals in co-ordination with the US government."
www.ft.com/content/060c...
www.ft.com/content/060c...
OpenAI plans Stargate expansion outside US
Global spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure with partners is expected to be ‘above and beyond’ $500bn target at home
www.ft.com
May 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
"The group said it would strike the overseas deals in co-ordination with the US government."
www.ft.com/content/060c...
www.ft.com/content/060c...
Countries in the Global South and poorer communities should not be treated as experimental labs for testing AI’s potential - to solve socio-economic challenges.
May 2, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Countries in the Global South and poorer communities should not be treated as experimental labs for testing AI’s potential - to solve socio-economic challenges.
Reposted by Kofi
One reason for skepticism towards AI hype is many of the same people insisted the Metaverse was definitely the future and you're dumb if you didn't get that, and before that insisted NFTs were definitely the future and you're dumb if you didn't get that.
LLMS seem to have more use cases, but still.
LLMS seem to have more use cases, but still.
The next time someone tells you some dumb-ass tech thing is "inevitable" even if a company has spent tens of billions of dollars on it
April 29, 2025 at 11:22 AM
One reason for skepticism towards AI hype is many of the same people insisted the Metaverse was definitely the future and you're dumb if you didn't get that, and before that insisted NFTs were definitely the future and you're dumb if you didn't get that.
LLMS seem to have more use cases, but still.
LLMS seem to have more use cases, but still.
For the love of God, I am tired of hearing tech optimists in Africa saying "AI is going to take away jobs in Africa". Read more about the technological and political culture of Africa.
a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face and says `` shut up please '' .
ALT: a man in a suit and tie is making a funny face and says `` shut up please '' .
media.tenor.com
April 10, 2025 at 12:20 PM
For the love of God, I am tired of hearing tech optimists in Africa saying "AI is going to take away jobs in Africa". Read more about the technological and political culture of Africa.
"Half of the fund will come from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japanese government’s overseas development assistance arm, with the remainder covered by a matching sum from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority."
www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
Nigeria readies $40M startup seed fund backed by Japan
The government is stepping in to boost support for early-stage ventures.
www.semafor.com
March 14, 2025 at 2:02 PM
"Half of the fund will come from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the Japanese government’s overseas development assistance arm, with the remainder covered by a matching sum from the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority."
www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
www.semafor.com/article/03/1...
"From experience, we know that current training programs for fieldwork and data collection in the Global North do not necessarily reflect the complex positionalities of Global South researchers."
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
March 3, 2025 at 2:11 PM
"From experience, we know that current training programs for fieldwork and data collection in the Global North do not necessarily reflect the complex positionalities of Global South researchers."
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsoci...
Reposted by Kofi
If African governments do not invest in building the infrastructure needed to leverage AI, the “AI Messiahs” who sing “AI will solve all of Africa’s problems” will continue to shape the future of AI in Africa www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
The Paradox of Africa’s Autonomy in Shaping its AI Future - LCFI
This blog was written by Kofi Yeboah, a former CFI Visitor. In it, Kofi contends that the notion of Africa making significant progress and controlling its own AI future is overly optimistic. Instead, ...
www.lcfi.ac.uk
February 27, 2025 at 6:21 AM
If African governments do not invest in building the infrastructure needed to leverage AI, the “AI Messiahs” who sing “AI will solve all of Africa’s problems” will continue to shape the future of AI in Africa www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Kofi
@kofiemeritus.bsky.social nails it!
If African governments do not invest in building the infrastructure needed to leverage AI, the “AI Messiahs” who sing “AI will solve all of Africa’s problems” will continue to shape the future of AI in Africa www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
The Paradox of Africa’s Autonomy in Shaping its AI Future - LCFI
This blog was written by Kofi Yeboah, a former CFI Visitor. In it, Kofi contends that the notion of Africa making significant progress and controlling its own AI future is overly optimistic. Instead, ...
www.lcfi.ac.uk
February 27, 2025 at 6:34 AM
@kofiemeritus.bsky.social nails it!
My research piece for University of Cambridge's Leverhulme CFI argues that the perception held by some African techno-solutionists that Africa is leading its own AI future is overly optimistic and overlooks the significant influence of external actors.
www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
The Paradox of Africa’s Autonomy in Shaping its AI Future - LCFI
This blog was written by Kofi Yeboah, a former CFI Visitor. In it, Kofi contends that the notion of Africa making significant progress and controlling its own AI future is overly optimistic. Instead, ...
www.lcfi.ac.uk
February 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
My research piece for University of Cambridge's Leverhulme CFI argues that the perception held by some African techno-solutionists that Africa is leading its own AI future is overly optimistic and overlooks the significant influence of external actors.
www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
www.lcfi.ac.uk/news-events/...
Reposted by Kofi
Meta cancelling professional factchecking in favor of community notes is causing worry in West Africa, where online disinfo has led to community violence and death: globalvoices.org/2025/02/21/t... - Great Global Voices coverage.
The impact on the African continent of Meta scrapping its fact-checking program
The removal of fact-checking on Meta, the social media platform, will have a significant impact on the work of professionals committed to combating disinformation and false information.
globalvoices.org
February 21, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Meta cancelling professional factchecking in favor of community notes is causing worry in West Africa, where online disinfo has led to community violence and death: globalvoices.org/2025/02/21/t... - Great Global Voices coverage.
The bare fact of civic disempowerment is the one constant in contemporary aid programs regardless of whichever model – St. Petersburg or Brussels – prevails."
odi.org/en/insights/...
odi.org/en/insights/...
Why the crisis in global aid is bigger than Trump
No sooner was he sworn in than Donald Trump, in a series of ‘executive orders’ and memos, unleashed pandemonium in the global aid order by demanding the realignment of all US foreign development assis...
odi.org
February 24, 2025 at 3:05 AM
The bare fact of civic disempowerment is the one constant in contemporary aid programs regardless of whichever model – St. Petersburg or Brussels – prevails."
odi.org/en/insights/...
odi.org/en/insights/...
I enjoyed reviewing and contributing to this important report by the Tony Blair Institute. It raises important debate on how to develop effective AI regulation in the global south, amidst the complexity of harmonising the diverse geopolitical interests.
institute.global/insights/tec...
institute.global/insights/tec...
February 21, 2025 at 1:07 PM
I enjoyed reviewing and contributing to this important report by the Tony Blair Institute. It raises important debate on how to develop effective AI regulation in the global south, amidst the complexity of harmonising the diverse geopolitical interests.
institute.global/insights/tec...
institute.global/insights/tec...