AI has been at the forefront of innovation lately, with the development of new gadgets and software that have made our daily activities a bit easier. This year, Apple introduced the Vision Pro glasses, which are considered to be the future of technology.
The glasses were launched in the United States but are yet to be introduced to the rest of the world. One obstacle to the adoption of this technology in Africa is the high cost, with the glasses priced at a staggering Ksh 700,000. The glasses feature a screen projection and a 3D user interface.
With such innovations, there is a growing interest in Africa’s position in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Globally, 55% of the population has embraced AI, with the USA leading in its utilization.
While AI offers promising prospects for the future, it has also brought about some negative consequences. This year, with 24 African countries holding elections, the proliferation of deep fakes on the internet aimed at spreading misinformation has been a significant challenge.
Elections in every country are vulnerable to being undermined by false information. Recently, I overheard a fellow passenger watching a video about Deputy President Gachagua’s take on Raila’s AU candidature. The video seemed fake to me, but my neighbour believed every word of it.
Deep fakes have the potential to deceive a large number of people, leading to animosity between individuals of different political affiliations and causing disunity in the country.
As responsible consumers of information, we need to ensure that the content we consume is genuine. Relying on trustworthy sources of information such as reputable television networks can help in filtering out fake news.
