An African Perspective to Ethical Questions Posed by Artificial Intelligence and the Intersections with Climate Justice, Resilience, and Equity

Abstract Explosive and unprecedented developments in information and computing technology and the emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) are bringing both opportunities and challenges to all mankind. However, for historical and sociological reasons, and current design of global power, the African continent will arguably be the most affected by the use and deployment of AI in all spheres of human endeavor ranging from the political, cultural, scientific, educational, societal, legal and regulatory, among others. Undoubtedly, one area that will be affected by the speed, impact, and complexity of AI will be climate, which is very pivotal to African life and existence. Already, it is anticipated that AI will further aggravate the effect of the crisis on Africa. With particular emphasis on Africa’s Indigenous people, this article analyzes current debates in technology ethics, infusing them with a special African characteristic and flavor. The utility of the Indigenous concept of Obuntu is highlighted as an alternative to Western conceptualizations of how AI technology should be approached right from development, through use to regulation. This article has interdisciplinarily deployed legal, political, and decolonial methodologies with the objective of contributing to and further enriching ongoing discussions for the development of a comprehensive continent-scale regulatory framework that judiciously recognizes the utility and great potential of AI systems as a climate resilience tool but also its multi-dimensional and enduring threats associated with the perpetuation of the climate crisis and inequalities involved.