How will our food system be impacted by AI?

AI IS CURRENTLY generating wide-spread discussion, from debates about its potential to end humanity to excitement over innovations like ChatGPT, with its rapid progress likened to the world wide web's seismic shift 32 years ago.

- STAFF REPORTER

However, what's often overlooked is Africa's absence in the data that powers AI. Less than 5% of Al training data pertains to Africa and less than 3% of that 5% comes from the continent itself, highlighting a significant gap in representation.

In this context, what does Al mean for Africa and what does it mean for African food systems? Will it help dismantle the power structures that reinforce injustice and drive bad outcomes, or will it turbo-charge them? What difference can we make in re-shaping our food system to be more healthy, sustainable and just if we have more understanding and more agency in shaping AI in ways that respond to our needs?