Ghana’s population has expressed concerns about the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI), prompting investigative reporter Sophia Smith Galer to delve deeper into their negative perceptions. In her award-winning documentary titled “AI: Saving Lives and Languages in Ghana,” Smith Galer examines the findings from the World Risk Poll conducted by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, which revealed that many Ghanaians believe AI poses more harm than good in the next two decades.
The poll, which surveyed 125,000 individuals across 121 countries, indicates that 47% of respondents in Ghana perceive AI as potentially harmful compared to only 28% who view it as helpful. These results prompted Smith Galer to further investigate the reasons behind these attitudes, especially considering Ghana’s pioneering role in developing AI systems.
Smith Galer’s documentary is a product of Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s initiative to engage creative content creators and journalists in sharing the human stories behind the World Risk Poll. The film explores the various applications of AI and machine learning in Ghana, specifically in bridging language barriers and improving healthcare.
The documentary showcases the development of Khaya, the first translation app for Ghanaian languages, as well as Wikimedia’s efforts to expand the presence of the West African Dagbani language online. Smith Galer also visits MinoHealth AI Labs, a biotechnology company in Accra, to explore how AI is being used to enhance healthcare screening and diagnoses.
Additionally, the film highlights the role of AI in improving data on critical infrastructure and severe weather event prediction in the region through a press day at Google’s Africa Artificial Intelligence lab.
Sophia Smith Galer explains, “The Lloyd’s Register Foundation World Risk Poll data revealed a fascinating trend where nations leading in AI development expressed greater confidence in its potential, while late adopters exhibited more skepticism. The findings from Ghana stood out to me because of the country’s AI-positive government and strong developer community, which made me wonder why there was this discrepancy.”
“I wanted to understand the reasons behind this skepticism as AI is a topic that greatly interests me and I knew there were numerous positive examples of AI being utilized in Ghana to empower people. Thanks to Lloyd’s Register Foundation’s commission, I had the opportunity to spend two weeks in Ghana, exploring various AI projects and delving into the root causes of this skepticism.”
Ed Morrow, Senior Campaigns Manager at Lloyd’s Register Foundation, emphasizes the importance of addressing the general population’s concerns in order to fully harness the possibilities and benefits that AI can offer.
FAQ
1. What is the World Risk Poll?
The World Risk Poll is a global study conducted by Lloyd’s Register Foundation to assess risks to people’s safety and well-being. It involves surveying individuals across multiple countries on various topics, including their perceptions of artificial intelligence.
2. What did the poll reveal about Ghanaians’ attitudes towards AI?
According to the poll, 47% of respondents in Ghana believe that AI has the potential to be harmful, while only 28% view it as helpful. This indicates a significant level of skepticism among Ghanaians towards AI.
3. Why did Sophia Smith Galer create the documentary?
Sophia Smith Galer, an award-winning reporter, was intrigued by the contrasting attitudes towards AI in Ghana despite the country’s positive environment for AI development. She wanted to explore the reasons behind this skepticism and showcase the positive examples of AI projects in Ghana.
4. What are some examples of AI applications highlighted in the documentary?
The documentary features the development of Khaya, a translation app for Ghanaian languages, and Wikimedia’s efforts to increase the online presence of the Dagbani language. It also explores how AI is being used to improve healthcare screening and diagnoses at MinoHealth AI Labs, a biotechnology company in Accra.
5. How does the documentary address the concerns of Ghanaians?
The documentary aims to understand and address the skepticism towards AI in Ghana by exploring different AI projects and interviewing key stakeholders. It sheds light on the potential benefits and applications of AI, hoping to bridge the gap between public perception and the positive impact of AI in Ghana.
The documentary “AI: Saving Lives and Languages in Ghana” delves into the negative perceptions of artificial intelligence (AI) in Ghana, despite the country’s significant advancements in AI development. The World Risk Poll conducted by Lloyd’s Register Foundation revealed that 47% of Ghanaians perceive AI as potentially harmful, compared to only 28% who view it as helpful.
This skepticism towards AI in Ghana is notable considering the country’s pioneering role in developing AI systems. The findings from the poll have prompted investigative reporter Sophia Smith Galer to explore the reasons behind this attitude and showcase the positive examples of AI projects in Ghana.
The documentary highlights various applications of AI and machine learning in Ghana, focusing on bridging language barriers and improving healthcare. It features the development of Khaya, the first translation app for Ghanaian languages, as well as efforts by Wikimedia to expand the presence of the West African Dagbani language online. The film also visits MinoHealth AI Labs, a biotechnology company in Accra, to explore how AI is being used to enhance healthcare screening and diagnoses.
Additionally, the documentary showcases the role of AI in improving data on critical infrastructure and severe weather event prediction in the region through a press day at Google’s Africa Artificial Intelligence lab.
The reasons behind the skepticism towards AI in Ghana are explored by Sophia Smith Galer during her two-week exploration of AI projects in the country. Despite the positive environment for AI development, there is still a discrepancy between the government’s support and the public perception of AI.
Lloyd’s Register Foundation emphasizes the importance of addressing the concerns of the general population in order to fully harness the possibilities and benefits that AI can offer.
For further information on the topic, you can visit:
Lloyd’s Register Foundation website
The source of the article is from the blog xn--campiahoy-p6a.es