From artificial to african intelligence: Defining our relationship with technology- by Moliehi Molekoa

As communication professionals, we are not here to debate technology, but to define our relationship with it as Africans and as guardians of trust. Artificial Intelligence should not merely be a tool we adopt; it should be one we actively shape, guided by our values, lived realities, and collective vision for the continent. Because AI is not only artificial intelligence, but it is also African Intelligence: our capacity to think deeply, adapt creatively, and lead ethically within our unique context.

While our global counterparts have taken commendable steps, such as the Venice Pledge, Africa must go further by exploring what governance means in contexts characterised by a lack of owned platforms to transmit and receive information, data inequality, limited digital access, and yet vast human creativity and moral capital. We must acknowledge these realities and uphold ethical standards, positioning Africa’s abundant human capital as our greatest “intelligence layer.”

Recognised globally as a general-purpose technology (GPT) similar to electricity or the internet, AI’s transformative potential across all sectors is undeniable, with its estimated contribution to the continent’s GDP expected to reach $1.2 trillion by 2030.

However, for it to benefit humanity rather than displace it, ethics rooted in Ubuntu must remain a central focus. We need to promote human-centred AI: systems that enhance, not replace, human decision-making. By embedding professional responsibility and human values at the heart of technological progress, Africa can ensure that AI’s development aligns with our societal goals, safeguarding humanity while advancing our development.

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Download “AI Ethics in Africa’s Media and Communications Landscape: A Readiness Framework for 2026 & Beyond” at [bhmng.com/AIEthicsWhitePaper]

Moliehi Molekoa holds a BA in Psychological Counselling from University of South Africa (UNISA), and other leadership and management certificates from Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS). Moliehi sits on numerous boards including the board of Northam Booysendal Community Trust
as an independent trustee and was the chairperson of the trust for two consecutive years as well as the non-executive director of BHM UK.