Artificial Intelligence: Are we as a country ready for the potential disruption?

The International Monetary Fund in a recent report dubbed “Artificial Intelligence and the Future of
Work” made a stark warning: Artificial Intelligence (AI) could wipe 40% global jobs with office-based
roles to take the most hit. The report further stated that AI is likely to impact 60% of all jobs in advanced
economies. This is bound to have a profound impact on the global economy which is largely wage based
economy. There have been reports that government institutions and private companies in Kenya are
increasingly using AI tools to market their products and services. This means creative such as models,
actors, photographers and videographers are slowly being replaced by AI. AI will lead to the
disappearance of certain jobs and the emergence of new jobs and profession. If you google AI on
YouTube, you will even get doomsday articles predicting that AI would lead to the rise of the machine
age which would wipe the human race. But what is AI?

Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. Two technologies often
associated with artificial intelligence include machine learning and deep learning. Machine language
technologies and algorithms enable applications to make more accurate predictions without additional
programming. They do so by using historical data to identify patterns and predict future outcomes. Deep
learning on the other hand tries to process information by understanding how the human brain is
structured and works. Deep learning uses an artificial neural network structure consisting of three or
more layers. The neural networks try to emulate how the human brain works and learns. Deep learning
is particularly important in AI applications that seek automation; performing tasks both physical and
analytical without human intervention. These includes tasks such as digital assistants, self – driving
vehicles, fraud detection, ChatGPT and voice – enabled TV remotes.

As artificial intelligence tools gain more prominence, it is quietly leading to the disappearance of some
jobs. This is more prominent in some fields. In their report entitled ‘2023 Future of Job Report’ the
World Economic Forum suggests that jobs which require human skills such as “judgment, creativity,
physical dexterity, and emotional intelligence” are the least likely to be affected by advances in AI
technology. As we have seen earlier, private companies and government agencies are increasingly using
AI tools to market their products and services. This means job losses for models, actors, videographers,
photographers and graphic designs. Graphic designs jobs are particularly vulnerable with the advent of
AI tools such as DALL.E and MidJourney. These AI tools can simply generate artwork by just following
simple text prompts from the user. This means that a user can makes logos and graphics by using a series
of prompts without necessarily having to have any prior knowledge or training on graphic design. Jobs
such as translation, transcription, proofreading, and entry level writing can now be easily done with the
assistance of tools such as ChatGPT and Google Translate. Autonomous driving means potential job
losses amongst drivers. Call centres are increasingly employing AI-powered Virtual Assistant instead of
the normal virtual assistants who are usually contractors.AI can be used in the legal industry to automate
routine tasks with the aim of reducing costs and increasing efficiency. This includes legal research, billing,
document management, performance of due diligence amongst other tasks.

Advancement in AI technology is also likely to create new opportunities. AI research and development
will require a new set of skills which are currently in short supply. These includes engineers, computer
scientists, data scientists, mathematicians, scientists and robotics specialists. The adoption of AI
technologies in various industries such as manufacturing, transportation, telecommunication and
healthcare will create a need for maintenance workforce which means more jobs for engineers,
computer scientists, and many others. The existing staff can also be retrained to perform some of the
new roles. Fields which require human expertise, empathy and intuition are least likely to be affected by
AI technology. Examples include medicine, teaching, therapy, and management. According to the World
Economic Forum while AI will lead to the loss of 85 million jobs by 2025 it will also lead to the creation of
97 million new jobs. So, while AI may lead to the loss of certain jobs it will also lead to the creation of
new job opportunities. It is clear that for one to survive in an AI-driven job market there is need for
continuous learning and upskilling. AI offers new employment avenues and opportunities for profession
growth.

As has been noted by key world leaders in both politics notably Russian president and Tesla CEO Elon,
Artificial intelligence is the future; Whoever dominates artificial intelligence will dominate the world.
China has set an ambitious plan with the aim of being the dominant player in the AI field by 2030.
Consequently, it has been channeling a lot of resources on research and development projects. There are
also a lot of collaborations between universities, government and companies. Companies such as
Huawei, Tencent, and Baidu are leading the countries race to become an AI powerhouse. The Chinese
government also invests heavily in AI research and development with investment projected to reach
$38.1 billion as per market consultant IDC. The United States of America (US) is still the largest
contributor to AI research and technology. The US hosts many of the largest vendors of the AI technology
notably OpenAI, Google, Meta and Anthropic. AI research and development in the US is driven by both
private equity and government funding. Other countries making significant investment in AI research and
development include United Kingdom, Israel, Canada, France, India, Japan, Germany and Singapore.

The questions we should ask ourselves as a country are: what steps are we taking as a country to
prepare for the fundamental changes AI will bring to the global economy? How will we handle the job
losses which could come as a result of AI technology? How can we take advantage of the new
opportunities created as a result of advances in AI technology? What can we do as a country to be part
of the global AI race?

Kenya has had massive success Fintech particularly M-PESA which has earned it global acclaim. With the
government keen to position Kenya as Africa’s technology hub with Konza Technopolis christened the
Silicon Savannah, it is important that government takes steps to attract these leading AI companies to set
up shop in Kenya. Also, government funding to kickstart AI research and development in universities and
private companies. Private companies can be also be assisted to get funding from private equities,
venture capitalists et cetera. Lastly, it is important that we also develop the required skilled manpower to
drive the AI-driven job market. This includes research, development and maintenance. This includes
engineers, computer scientists, data scientists, mathematicians and robotics. Is our education system
producing the right skilled man power to drive the AI -driven job market?