DIGITAL MARKETING: Can AI leapfrog schools before other brands?

The other day one CEO from a global auditing firm told me something worth sharing. He said, “all our departments are looking to see how best to use AI going forward, especially in data analytics aspect.” Why can’t he just adopt AI tools from the West? Something is changing. Leaders must figure out how to see different perspectives at a blink of an eye. The best leaders create opportunities. Why it is that dealing with TRA tax returns is so complicated and outdated? If smartphone can be used to pay for Luku and Water; why not TRA tax returns? Anyway, back to basics.

I happen to believe that Artificial intelligence, Machine Learning and Data Mining is the next big thing in Africa. How can we tap this opportunity? What is your brand doing? AI, machine learning and data mining; are the key areas lagging behind in Africa. Can we have AI inmates from the West helping in TRA tax returns? Are leadership skills in place to supervise them in case we need them? We can’t leapfrog without leadership.

First things first; AI is an opportunity to learn computer skills. Do our students know technology is an enabler? Who can put enough efforts to create machines capable of intelligent behavior? Look at the broad catchall happening in the world; everything from Siri, Alexa; the virtual assistants doing wonders. Even the IBM’s Watson which its AI Algorithms are being used to power business successes.

On the other hand, we had this project known as “One Laptop per Child, (OLPC).” It was a non-profit initiative which started in 2005 with the goal of transforming education for children. It was partially adopted in Africa to distribute educational content. It didn’t fly. The OLPC gadget was a solar powered inexpensive laptop valued at $100. It only needed sun which is abundant, in order to enable kids to explore, experiment and express themselves. It’s history. However, the project was not a homegrown educational model.

While African researchers are not empowered to go the extra mile, elsewhere dance moves are limited with two options. The first one is “narrow AI,” their systems are better than people in well-defined specific repetitive tasks. The other one is “general AI,” which might surpass human capabilities in multiple domains.

Frankly speaking, “narrow AI” has already improved dramatically at translations, generating patterns, games as well as important research in science and technology. Where are we heading? Today, we have difficulties in speaking of our personal feelings. We lack the courage to curious and ask questions. This has to change. Why not? According to Mr Wilbroad Prosper, the Head of Capstone, one of the best private schools in Tanzania; it has something to do with our culture. In the past as youngsters, we were not “free to let our doubts and conflicts to be shared to our elders (teachers or parents).” He insisted that “creativity and freedom are cultivated in the soil of questions and doubts.” How can we develop and improve our education system? Mr. Prosper has one crazy interesting idea which is implementable. He believes that “Teachers should be promoting participation in their classrooms.” Also, students should be inspired to be active; the classroom sitting arrangement in rows not looking at the blackboard, just listening and receiving knowledge stops their creative juices to flow. Such situations in our schools are oppressing students’ independence and their entrepreneurial minds. We can make progress from the bottom up by painstakingly teach computer systems specific concepts like AI. We must evaluate our education system.

Innocent Swai is content director for MobiAd Africa Tanzania Ltd.