To give AI-focused female academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching an interview series focusing on the remarkable women who have contributed to the AI revolution.
Charlette N’Guessan is the Data and Ecosystem Solutions Leader at Amini, a deep tech startup leveraging space technology and artificial intelligence to address the scarcity of environmental data in Africa and the Global South.
She co-founded and led the product development of Bace API, a secure identity verification system that uses AI-powered facial recognition technology to combat online identity fraud and address facial recognition biases in the African context. She is also an AI consultant to the African Union High-Level Committee on Emerging Technologies and works on the African Union and AI continental strategy titled “Harnessing AI for socio-economic development in Africa” with a focus on shaping the AI governance landscape in Africa.
N’Guessan has also co-authored several publications and is the first woman to receive the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation.
In short, how did you get started in the field of artificial intelligence? What attracted you to the field?
I have an engineering background from both formal and informal education. I have always been passionate about using technology to build solutions that will positively impact my communities. This ambition led me to move to Ghana in 2017, where I aimed to learn from the English-speaking market and begin my technology entrepreneurship journey.
During the process of developing my startup, my former co-founders and I conducted market research to identify challenges in the financial sector, leading to online identity fraud. We then decided to build a secure, reliable and efficient solution for financial institutions to bridge the gap in serving the unbanked population in remote areas and build online trust. This led to a software solution that leverages facial recognition and AI technologies, specifically designed to make it easier for organizations to handle online customer identity verification while ensuring our model is trained using representative data from the African market. This marked my initial involvement in the AI industry. Note that in 2023, despite our efforts, we faced various challenges that led us to stop marketing our product in the market. However, this experience strengthened my determination to continue working in the field of artificial intelligence.
What attracted me to AI was the realization of its enormous power as a tool for solving societal problems. Once you understand this technology, you can see its potential to address a wide range of issues. This understanding fueled my passion for AI and continues to drive my work in this field today.
What work are you most proud of in the field of artificial intelligence?
I am extremely proud of my journey as a deep tech entrepreneur. Building an AI startup in Africa is no easy feat, so for those who have embarked on this journey, this is a huge accomplishment. This experience has been a milestone in my career, and I am grateful for the challenges and opportunities it has brought.
Currently, I am proud of the work we are doing at Amini, as we address the challenge of data scarcity on the African continent. Having faced this problem as a former founder, I am so grateful to work with such inspiring and talented problem solvers. Today, my team and I have developed a solution by building a data infrastructure using space technology and artificial intelligence to make data easier to access and understand. Our work is a game-changer and a critical stepping stone for the emergence of more data-driven products in the African market.
How do you overcome the challenges of the male-dominated technology industry and, by extension, the male-dominated AI industry?
The truth is that what we face today in the industry has been shaped by societal biases and gender stereotypes. This is a societal mentality that has been nurtured for years. Most women working in the AI industry have been told at least once that they are in the wrong industry because they were expected to be at A, B, C and D level.
Why should we choose? Why should society dictate our paths? It is important to remind ourselves that women have made remarkable contributions to science, leading to some of the most impactful technological advances that benefit society today. She exemplifies what women can achieve when provided with education and resources.
I realize that changing mindsets takes time, but we cannot wait; We need to continue encouraging girls to study science and embrace careers in artificial intelligence. Honestly, I’ve seen progress compared to previous years, which gives me hope. I believe ensuring equal opportunities in the industry will attract more women into AI roles, and providing more access to leadership positions for women will accelerate change towards gender balance in male-dominated industries.
What advice would you give to women who want to enter the field of artificial intelligence?
Focus on your learning and make sure you gain the necessary skills in the field of artificial intelligence. Understand that the industry may expect you to demonstrate your abilities more intensely compared to your male colleagues. Honestly, investing in your skills is crucial and serves as a solid foundation. I believe this will not only boost your confidence in seizing opportunities, but will also enhance your resilience and professional growth.
What are some of the most pressing issues facing AI as it develops?
Some of the most pressing issues facing artificial intelligence as it develops include challenges in elucidating its short- and long-term effects on humans. This is a global conversation right now due to the uncertainty surrounding emerging technologies. While we have seen impressive applications of AI in industries globally, including in Africa, particularly with recent developments in generative AI solutions and the ability of AI models to process massive amounts of data with minimal latency, we have also observed that AI models Artificial Intelligence is filled with various types of artificial intelligence. Biases and hallucinations. There is no doubt that the world is moving towards a future that relies more on artificial intelligence. However, several questions remain unanswered and need to be addressed:
- What is the future of humans in the AI loop?
- What is the appropriate approach for regulators to define policies and laws to mitigate risks in AI models?
- What does AI responsibility and ethical framework mean?
- Who should bear responsibility for the results of AI models?
What are some issues that AI users should be aware of?
I like to remind people that we are all first AI users before any other title. Each of us interacts with AI solutions in different ways, whether directly or through people (such as family members, friends, etc.) using different devices. This is why it is important to have an understanding of the technology itself. One thing you should know is that most AI solutions on the market require your data, and as a user, be curious to understand how much control you give the device over your data. When considering using an AI solution, consider the data privacy and security the platform provides. This is crucial for your protection.
Additionally, there has been a lot of excitement around generative AI content. However, it is necessary to be careful about what you create with these tools and distinguish between real content and fake content. For example, social media users have faced the spread of deepfake content, which serves as an example of how people with malicious intent can abuse these tools. Always check the source of created content before sharing it to avoid contributing to the problem.
Finally, AI users must be careful not to rely excessively on these tools. Some individuals may become addicted, and we have seen cases where users have taken negative actions based on recommendations from AI conversations. It is important to remember that AI models can produce inaccurate results due to societal biases or other factors. In the long term, users should strive to maintain autonomy to prevent potential mental health issues arising from unethical AI tools.
What is the best way to build responsibility into AI?
It’s an interesting topic. I have worked with the African Union High Commission on Emerging Technologies as a consultant on artificial intelligence, focusing on formulating the African Union’s continental and AI strategy with stakeholders from different backgrounds and countries involved. The aim of this strategy is to guide AU Member States to recognize the value of AI for economic growth and develop a framework that supports the development of AI solutions while protecting Africans. Some of the basic principles that I always advise to keep in mind when building responsible AI for the African market are as follows:
- Context is important: Make sure your models are diverse and inclusive to address societal discrimination based on gender, regions, ethnicity, age, etc.
- Accessibility: Can users access your solution? For example, how to ensure that someone who lives in a remote area benefits from your solution.
- responsible: Clarify who is responsible when model results are biased or potentially harmful.
- Explainability: Make sure the results of your AI model are understandable to stakeholders.
- Data privacy and integrity: Make sure you have a data privacy and security policy to protect your users and that you comply with current laws where you operate.
How can investors better push for responsible AI?
Ideally, any company working in the field of AI should have an ethical framework as a mandatory requirement to take into account when investing. However, one challenge is that many investors may lack knowledge and understanding about AI technology. What I learned is that AI-based products are not subject to the same investment risk assessment as other technology products on the market.
To meet this challenge, investors must look beyond trends and deeply evaluate the solution at both the technical and impact levels. This can include working with industry experts to gain a better understanding of the technical aspects of the AI solution and its potential short- and long-term impact.