As the country marches towards a revolution of political change, behind the scenes, a new force is reshaping the artistic horizon: artificial intelligence. A groundbreaking study by Creatives Garage, Kenya’s leading multi-disciplinary arts organization, reveals a complex relationship between Kenyan artists and AI technology.
The research, aptly titled “ARTificial Intelligence in Africa,” sheds light on how Kenyan creatives are rapidly adopting AI tools to enhance their work. Over 75% of the 130 artists surveyed reported using artificial intelligence for various tasks, from image generation to copy editing. Of the tools being used, the most common were ChatGPT, Google Gemini/Bard, Canva, Grammarly, Google Translate, and Midjourney.
Liz ‘Thayu’ Kilili, Founder and Managing Director of Creatives Garage, emphasized the importance of this technological integration, stating, “As creatives, we cannot escape technology. Instead, we must harness it to our advantage, blending our artistic visions with technological innovations to enhance and expand our cultural expressions.”
However, this embrace of AI comes with a caveat. Kenyan artists are acutely aware of the potential pitfalls. The study highlights three primary concerns: job displacement, intellectual property rights, and cultural erosion. In particular, none of the AI tools used by Kenyan creatives are developed locally, which raises questions about cultural representation in AI systems.
The research also reveals a nuanced perspective among artists. While they acknowledge AI as a powerful catalyst for creativity, they also caution against viewing it as a magic bullet. One participant in the study described it as a “double-edged sword,” capable of enhancing creative processes but not a “quick fix” or “silver bullet” for artistic challenges.
Perhaps most striking is the call for action coming from this research. Kenyan creatives are demanding effective policies and regulatory interventions to ensure AI is developed ethically and fairly. They seek protection of their rights, safeguards against exploitation, and transparency in AI development and deployment.
The study also stresses the need for capacity building among policymakers and regulators, enabling them to effectively address AI-related concerns. Furthermore, there’s a push for the development of more inclusive AI tools by African developers, using datasets that better represent the African context. This way, artificial intelligence can efficiently address the problems that affect Africans.
