Decolonial AI Development: An Imperative Through a Control of Authority Lens

Coloniality in artificial intelligence (AI) development sustains imperial ambitions while simultaneously perpetuating the subjugation of Global Majority regions such as Africa. While significant attention has been given to how AI development mirrors colonial legacies of extraction and perpetuates subjugation, less attention has been given to how power is wielded to actively reinforce these legacies. Yet, current coloniality is indicative of an old power structure undergoing constant reinforcement. Using the coloniality of power framework, this paper focuses on the contemporary wielding of the control of authority by big technology corporations and the state, to entrench self-serving priorities, facilitate extraction and stem dissent, for the purposes of sustaining dominance/subservient relations in AI. Thereafter, the paper briefly outlines a few guidelines for decolonial AI development in Africa. By situating AI development in power, and unravelling how the control of authority is wielded, this paper contributes to a candid discourse on how AI development can be extricated from coloniality.