Africa Meets AI: Health and Education
Unless We Take [AI] Very Seriously, We Will Be Left Behind Just Like What Happened [During] The Industrial Revolution - Shehu Tijjani Yusuf, PhD
Written by Malik Djinadou, with contributions from Mohamed Camara
In the vibrant streets of Tunis, where history and innovation intertwine, Abdul, an aspiring medical student, embarks on a journey filled with challenges and opportunities. His story unfolds in Tunisia, among some of the best healthcare in Africa, and illustrates Artificial Intelligence's (AI) transformative power in education and healthcare. Across Africa's diverse and dynamic landscapes, a technological revolution is spearheaded by the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This article delves into AI’s transformative role in two critical sectors: health and education. In these areas, AI is not just a tool for efficiency and innovation; it's a catalyst for leapfrogging developmental challenges and democratizing access to essential services and knowledge, particularly in Africa.
What is AI?
Before we delve into Abdul's world, let's understand AI. Imagine a computer program that can think, learn, and make decisions like a human but faster. Much faster. It learns from data, like a smart assistant on your phone that learns your favourite songs or how you type. In Africa, AI is still growing and has the potential to make Africa bypass conventional modernization through its use.
AI encompasses systems that can learn, adapt, and perform tasks that traditionally require human intelligence. Its applications range from simple data analysis to complex problem-solving, presenting a world of possibilities. In Africa, where resource constraints often hinder development, AI offers a unique opportunity to leapfrog traditional technological and social advancement stages. For example:
AI assists in diagnosing diseases, personalizing treatment, and monitoring patient health. AI can also help patients monitor their health and wellness using wearable devices or apps.
AI aids in contract review, legal research, and document creation. AI can also help clients create legal documents using templates or chatbots.
AI can help teachers personalize learning by adapting the curriculum, pace, and feedback to each student’s needs and preferences. AI can also help teachers assess learning by grading assignments, tests, or essays. AI can also help students learn by providing interactive tutors, games, or simulations.
AI can help farmers optimize crops by monitoring soil, weather, or pests in agriculture. Using drones, robots, or sensors, AI can also help farmers improve yields. AI can also help farmers reduce costs using smart irrigation, fertilization, or harvesting.
By providing personalized and adaptive learning platforms, AI helps people acquire new skills, access further information, and connect with new communities in languages, professions, travels, and hobbies. By offering accessible, affordable, and inclusive solutions, AI helps people overcome barriers, challenges, and inequalities in disability, remoteness, development, and diversity. Moreover, AI also democratizes many fields and services by allowing people who lack expertise to create websites, chatbots, legal documents, and other products using easy and intuitive tools.
Popular AI software that most of us use in our daily lives is FaceID, search engines, Netflix recommendations, Siri/Alexa, and popular chatbots like chatGPT, Bard, and Claude.
AI and Education
Abdul first encountered AI in his courses at the University of Tunis, where he and other students realized that AI tools could analyze learning patterns and offer personalized content that caters to every student’s unique learning style (and whether AI could do his homework). Through personalized learning platforms, AI is making quality education accessible to all, irrespective of their geographic or socio-economic backgrounds. AI-powered tools equip students and educators with resources previously exclusive to well-funded institutions.
The Tunisian education sector, particularly in AI, is marked by the growth of startups and research institutions. These entities are actively developing AI applications across various sectors, including healthcare. The Tunisian AI Association, for instance, fosters collaboration and knowledge sharing among AI professionals. This vibrant AI environment nurtures a culture of innovation, laying the groundwork for Abdul's advanced AI-driven medical education.
AI's Role in Healthcare
Moving into his specialized medical training, Abdul witnessed the profound impact of AI in healthcare. In healthcare, AI's potential to transform lives in Africa is immense. From diagnostic algorithms that can predict diseases more accurately than ever to telemedicine platforms that bring specialist care to remote areas, AI democratizes access to quality healthcare services. This evolution is already apparent in discussions in the Tunisian health sector, particularly in diagnostics, where AI algorithms offer a more accurate and consistent interpretation of medical images than traditional methods. This leads to quicker, more accurate diagnoses and timely treatment plans, directly impacting patient outcomes. AI's role extends to developing personalized treatment plans, utilizing vast amounts of patient data to tailor treatments to individual needs. In addition, AI is improving healthcare efficiency through tools like AI-powered chatbots and virtual assistants, which provide instant access to medical information and reduce unnecessary healthcare visits, which could benefit people in remote areas. For example, in some African communities with limited access to specialized healthcare, initiatives like the Philips Foundation's portable ultrasound program are groundbreaking. These programs enable early detection and treatment of pregnancy complications by equipping midwives with portable ultrasound devices and supporting them through remote education and real-time collaboration. These midwives use mobile apps to build health profiles for pregnant women, enhancing care through digital data sharing and remote monitoring, thereby creating a connected maternal care ecosystem. As you can see, AI is not a replacement for human expertise but a complement, allowing healthcare professionals to focus more on patient care and empathy, essential aspects of healthcare that AI cannot replace.
Merging AI in Education and Healthcare
The intersection of AI in education and healthcare is a crucial aspect of Abdul's journey. AI applications in medical courses bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills, showcasing the potential to revolutionize medical education, making it more efficient, effective, and aligned with the rapid advancements in healthcare.
Challenges
Abdul, like many others across Africa, confronts a blend of challenges and opportunities in AI. Despite Tunisia’s progress in healthcare, it, alongside other African nations, faces critical challenges, including infrastructure limitations and a digital divide. Yet, these challenges are counterbalanced by significant opportunities for growth, particularly in healthcare and education, where AI offers transformative possibilities.
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. Addressing these challenges requires collaborative efforts among academic institutions, industries, and governments. This is vital to sustain the momentum of AI growth in healthcare and education.
Tunisia's role as a leader in North Africa's AI adoption highlights the varied readiness for AI across the continent. However, widespread infrastructural challenges and a skills gap are common issues. For instance, data shows that African countries have scored between 2.2 and 6.7 on the Digital Skills Gap index. This necessitates partnerships with global technology leaders. Limitations in infrastructure, irregular electricity, and inconsistent internet access are significant barriers to AI implementation. Ethical issues like data privacy, biased algorithms, and the digital divide require careful consideration for responsible AI deployment.
Opportunities
With a keen interest in personal finance, Abdul sought to understand the investment landscape of AI in Africa. Global investment in Medical Artificial Intelligence (MAI) is projected to reach about $6.6 billion by 2021, with AI implementations in healthcare anticipated to save $150 billion in costs by 2026. This presents significant investment opportunities. He saw the economic development potential, the innovation hub that Africa could become, and the opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems.
As we know, the youth embraces technology the most, and Africa has a young and innovative population that is increasingly embracing technology. By 2050, 25% of the world’s youth population will be African. This demographic presents an opportunity for Africa to cultivate a culture of innovation and develop unique AI solutions that address its specific challenges while contributing to global advancements in AI.
Abdul’s journey through the world of AI in Africa is a microcosm of the larger story unfolding across the continent. While challenges exist, the opportunities presented by AI in revolutionizing sectors like healthcare and education are immense. As AI continues to permeate the health and education sectors, it promises accelerated growth and equality. This technological leapfrogging isn't just reshaping these sectors; it's redefining what's possible for the next generation of Africans. The key lies in balancing the development of infrastructure and skills with ethical considerations, fostering a future where AI not only thrives but also enriches lives across Africa.
If you are interested in conversational AI and how healthcare and AI intersect, please feel free to connect with Mohammed on Linkedin.
Very insightful post. I think also we don't currently have have experts in the field of AI nor startups keen on AI. We also do not have the ability to explore, in our own way, novel ventures to perhaps remain at par with emerging technologies. Again, there isn't VC framework for startups to mushroom in Africa. While we might be excited about AI, we are curtailed by a myriad of complex problems.
There’s a great article by Lynn Gitau on the African AI landscape: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/unlocking-silicon-savannah-assessing-africas-ai-readiness-lynn-gitau . The work has begun!