Africa, a region with more than 50 countries and over 1,000 tribes and languages. But despite this diversity, Sub-Saharan Africa is lagging behind the rest of the world in terms of technology. The ability to be creative and adaptable to new technologies is a critical requirement for competing successfully in the global marketplace.
The secret weapon behind science and the prosperity of nations is simple but profound: ideas rule the world … This is yet the most important secret of the wealth of nations
Various international forums have recognized the importance of the transfer of technology, especially to developing countries. It is also a well-documented fact that the African continent has not kept pace with technological advancement. Africa’s technological gap could be the source of its increasing economic deterioration because other developing regions are constantly upgrading their own technological capabilities, and the global marketplace has become increasingly competitive.
Africa has fallen behind because its people, despite their historical abilities in science, have not pursued technological advancement in a continuous and organized manner.
The more the Western world was able to invent and innovate in the past 300 years, the more “civilized” it became. In comparison, Africa remained closer to nature, being more “primitive” and backward.
WILL CHATGPT KILL THE NON EXISTENT CREATIVITY?
Do we have anything to be worried about? AI has come to make life ‘easier’ right? which includes but not limited to thinking for you, giving answers, and making decisions. What then happens to individuals who couldn’t think or be creative initially? Could this be a stop to thought processes?
Having an AI which Writes essays, Answers questions like Google does, Construct stories, plays, scripts, Create a business proposal, Produce a computer program, Write a song, Devise a standup comedy, Write social media content, and much more . It is safe to say ChatGpt may diminish thinking skills which brings about creativity. To think means to create one’s own perspective, this involves logical reasoning, research and eventually a product or an idea.
When the mind is no longer tasked with thinking, laziness comes in, as well as accepting as truth whatever you are told or handed. In a region where technologies like telephones and computers are used just for pictures, prestige, music to mention a few, the full essence of what the manufacturers had in mind when these devices were created is not fully captured. How then do you convince people that they can find answers to whatever they are looking for with that same telephone? It’s difficult, but it’s not supposed to be.
Now there is an advanced AI bot that can help you with ‘all’ things, why bother to ‘stress’? After all we are in the 21st century? The irony o f it is that whatever technological advancement we have enjoyed, came about from peoples thoughts processes, even the ChatGpt. Just like two sides to a coin, some are of the opinion that ChatGpt will diminish creativity, others believe it will enhance it. Where do you stand?
We cannot stop technological advancement, because we encourage creativity, ChatGpt just like other AI is a wonderful innovation. The point of this article, is that while the bot as well as what it can do is still unfolding, let’s not loose our thought process, keep thinking. Who knows, you could be the next inventor? All AI’s should be means to our destinations, and not the destination itself.
AUTHORS
1) KAYODE ADENIJI
Senior Partner, Lawracles legal practitioners.
2) SANDRA NNAJI-IHUOMA
Associate, Lawracles legal practitioners.