As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly embedded in healthcare, biotechnology and public decision-making, a new African-led initiative is asking a crucial question: how can Africa help shape this future and navigate it safely?
Artificial intelligence is moving rapidly from a tool used by individuals into a technology capable of transforming healthcare, biomedical research, disease surveillance, drug discovery and public health decision-making.
For Africa, this presents enormous opportunities, but also questions that cannot be left for the future.
Who will understand the emerging risks? Who will help shape the governance frameworks? And who will ensure African perspectives are represented in conversations about increasingly capable AI?
These questions are at the heart of KARIYA ASG4BA, a newly launched initiative focused on building African capacity at the intersection of AI safety, AI governance, biosecurity and global/public health.
Why this intersection matters
Much of the conversation around AI safety has developed within technology and AI communities. Meanwhile, conversations around biosecurity and global health have largely evolved within biomedical, public-health and security communities.
KARIYA is being built around the idea that these conversations increasingly need to meet. As AI systems become more capable, their applications extend further into biological research, biotechnology, disease surveillance, healthcare systems. That creates opportunities for scientific and health innovation, but also raises questions around safety, misuse, governance and preparedness for possible dangers.
KARIYA therefore aims to create a space where people from aligned and diverse disciplines can better understand these intersections.
As a result KARIYA’s focus program areas are built around four pillars beyond general AI awareness.
The initiative’s long-term ambition is to contribute to a generation of African researchers, policymakers and practitioners who can engage meaningfully with emerging technological risks and opportunities.
Why Africa needs a seat at the table
Participation in the “AI future” does not only mean adopting technologies developed elsewhere.It also means developing the people, institutions, research capacity and governance systems needed to understand what these technologies mean for African societies.
For KARIYA, this is particularly important at the intersection of AI, biosecurity and global/public-health risks.
A biomedical scientist, AI researcher, biotechnologist, and policymaker may approach the same emerging risk from very different perspectives. KARIYA seeks to create spaces where those perspectives can meet.
“Africa should not only prepare for a future shaped by AI. Africa should help shape that future safely”.
KARIYA ASG4BA – AI Safety & Governance for a Biosafe Africa
Building African Capacity to Advance AI Safety, Governance and Global Health for a Biosafe Africa.
Follow KARIYA: Linkedin
Founder: Abdulbasit Hamza
Location: Nigeria
