Artificial Intelligence and New Social Realities in Africa

This volume examines the multifaceted impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on critical domains of knowledge across African countries, including education, the humanities, agriculture, empirical sciences, commerce, industry and governance. The chapters are organized thematically into sections that address the transformative potential of AI within these specific fields. Rather than imposing a singular, monolithic overview, the volume deliberately cultivates a scholarly space for divergent perspectives and critical debates surrounding AI integration. Certain chapters examine the profound disruption of traditional societal structures (religion, politics, customs and artistic expression) and the systemic risks posed by AI deployment in the absence of robust regulatory frameworks. Conversely, other contributors express measured optimism regarding the capacity of AI to enhance the quality of life in resource-constrained economies. Among the diverse array of subjects discussed include the benefits and risks of AI in mitigating educational inequalities, its application in cybersecurity and risk management, the governance of financial institutions, climate-smart agriculture, legal administrative frameworks, the optimization of large engineering projects, the deployment of AI in literary writing and interpretation; and film, media and social- media content creation. Utilizing varied theoretical methodologies, this interdisciplinary study critically explores both merits and demerits of artificial intelligence grounding its analysis in localized case studies across the African continent.