This book is an Open Access Publication. The Guidelines for Trustworthy AI developed by the European Commission High-Level Expert Group on AI is a framework that has been developed to promote and achieve the trustworthiness of AI systems. It provides seven ethical principles that can be operationalised in socio-technical systems to realise responsible AI design and deployment. The content of this book is shaped around these principles. In chapter one, the concept of Human Agency and oversight will be described from the lens of a social-cultural understanding of Agency, Autonomy, and oversight including a debate on the place of human rights and power dynamics.
Beyond the Trustworthy AI discourse, this bookwill appeal to the wider AI developers community, civil society, policymakers, ICT and the RRI community. It will also appeal to other subject areas within the Social Sciences and Humanities including; Law and Technology and Digital Culture.
In this context , I contributed with a chapter titled : Context-Aware Africa-Led Designing of Responsible Artificial Intelligence Technologies
I co-authored with Dr.Michael Zimba and Dr. Angella K. Ndaka
This chapter examines artificial intelligence as a transformative general-purpose technology reshaping global socioeconomic and political landscapes. The authors illuminate how AI creates profound strategic advantages for early adopters and investors, while simultaneously revealing a stark digital divide: the Global North commands the development frontier while Africa remains significantly marginalized in the AI revolution.
Unlike previous industrial transformations where Africa remained primarily a technology consumer, the authors argue that the continent must fundamentally alter this narrative. The path forward requires developing AI technologies that are not merely imported but consciously designed to reflect Africa’s diverse socio-cultural contexts, unique challenges, and indigenous knowledge systems.
The analysis presents compelling evidence for coordinated action across African governments, academic institutions, and private sector organizations to build robust local AI capacity. This includes strategic investments in:
- Comprehensive digital skills ecosystems that prepare Africans to both develop and apply AI technologies
- Critical infrastructure modernization, particularly in computational resources and connectivity
- Cultivation of viable AI markets that address distinctly African needs and opportunities
Most significantly, the chapter advocates for an ethical “AI-by-design” approach where technologies are co-created through inclusive processes involving diverse stakeholders—from technologists to community representatives. This collaborative methodology ensures AI systems embody African values and priorities while mitigating historical patterns of technological dependence and exploitation.
Through this African-centered framework, AI can serve as a catalyst for sustainable development rather than reinforcing existing global inequities.
