AS Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to evolve, African governments and entrepreneurs increasingly turn to AI-powered tools to help transform education.

The growing awareness and availability of low-cost, AI-driven tools are making them more accessible to many across the continent, offering opportunities to develop locally tailored digital solutions to improve learning.

AI tools, both free and affordable, are gaining traction among those with smartphones and internet access. While governments and lawmakers grapple with the implications of AI technology, millions of individuals are already leveraging its capabilities. From generating essays and exam answers to producing videos and podcasts, AI is helping people in various corners of Africa save time and enhance productivity.

Even in areas where electricity and internet connectivity are limited, AI’s potential is widely recognised. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a nation facing ongoing conflict, poverty, and inequality, educators are beginning to see how AI can impact communities, despite the challenges.

“We are obviously behind in terms of new technologies, for various reasons,” says Benjamin Sivanzire, a teacher in Beni, North Kivu. 

“Many parts of DRC don’t even have traditional communication methods, like radio or television.” While AI has not yet reached his classroom, Sivanzire highlights its growing presence in the wider culture, albeit with mixed outcomes. He stresses the importance of education on the distinction between credible information and misleading content created using AI tools, particularly videos designed for propaganda.

However, AI's development raises concerns about bias, especially given its concentration in the hands of a relatively small group of people, often from Silicon Valley. 

Farida Shahid, the independent Special Rapporteur on the Right to Education, raises the concerns about the algorithms powering AI tools. 

“They tend to be developed by individuals in a particular location, who often have their own biases,” Shahid explains. “These algorithms struggle to recognise people with dark skin and fail to cater to those who, for example, have autism and are uncomfortable with cameras.”

The growing dominance of AI in education has raised alarms about potential biases, as evidenced in the UK, where an AI system was used to grade exam papers, leading to biased decisions against some ethnic groups. According to Shahid, this demonstrates the need for a more inclusive approach to AI development, especially in education, to ensure fair outcomes for all students.

The need to expand the developer talent base is vital in ensuring that AI tools for education are representative of diverse voices and needs. According to Shafika Isaacs, head of technology and AI at UNESCO, African EdTech startups have rapidly grown in recent years, experimenting with AI-powered digital tools that can support teaching and learning across various contexts, including African languages and local dialects.

“I’ve worked with a startup that helps high school students select career pathways, including choosing the right university or entrepreneurship programme. They’ve had strong results, particularly in underprivileged schools,” Isaacs explains. Startups have also developed AI-enabled mobile apps, such as chatbots, to support teachers in teaching subjects like literacy and mathematics. However, Isaacs points out that there is often a disconnect between the public education system and the tech sector, urging educators to engage with developers and actively design technologies that are relevant to their cultural and linguistic contexts.

In Côte d'Ivoire, AI is already making an impact, particularly in the private sector. The country’s Minister of Education, Mariatou Koné, shares that the education system is undergoing a transformation, with AI playing a crucial role. Following a 2022 review, a digitalisation strategy was implemented, and the government is focusing on raising awareness about AI’s potential in education.

“We have launched initiatives to ensure people understand the value of AI, especially its potential to provide personalised learning programmes that can help struggling students improve,” says minister Koné. However, she also expressed concerns about potential abuses of the technology, such as privacy violations. “We must be able to protect personal data and ensure learners are aware of the risks involved,” she adds.

Koné agrees that to mitigate bias, it is essential to increase the diversity of engineers developing AI tools. “We need tools that are adapted to the African context, specifically the Ivorian context. We have our own history and heritage. If we create our own industry, it must be designed to meet the realities of Côte d'Ivoire,” she says.

As African nations move forward with the integration of AI into education, the development of home-grown solutions tailored to local needs will be crucial in ensuring that the technology benefits all students, regardless of their background or location.