To give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who’ve contributed to the AI revolution.
**Charlette N’Guessan**, the Data Solutions and Ecosystem Lead at **Amini**, is a trailblazing figure in the African AI landscape. Her journey highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by women navigating a male-dominated field while demonstrating the immense potential of AI to solve critical problems, particularly in developing nations.
N’Guessan’s early foray into AI stemmed from a desire to use technology for positive social impact. While leading product development for her startup, **Bace API**, her team tackled the pressing issue of online identity fraud in the African financial sector. Through AI-powered facial recognition, Bace API aimed to provide secure identity verification and combat bias prevalent in the market. While Bace API ultimately ceased commercialization, the experience ignited N’Guessan’s passion for AI, solidifying her belief in its power for social transformation.
Today, N’Guessan leads Amini’s efforts to address data scarcity in Africa, a challenge she faced firsthand as a founder. Amini leverages space technology and AI to create accessible and comprehensible data infrastructure. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize data access in the African market, fueling development of data-driven solutions.
N’Guessan’s experience navigating the male-dominated tech industry serves as a powerful reminder of the persistent societal biases and gender stereotypes that women face. She underscores the importance of challenging these norms, highlighting the remarkable contributions of women throughout history and advocating for equal opportunities in the future.
“We are facing today in the industry has been shaped by societal biases and gender stereotypes. This is a societal mindset that has been nurtured for years. Most of the women working in the AI industry have been told at least once that they were in the wrong industry because they were expected to be A, B, C and D. Why should we have to choose? Why should society dictate our paths for us?” she shares, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy and encouragement to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers and break down discriminatory barriers.
N’Guessan advocates for women seeking to enter the AI field to focus on acquiring the necessary skills and building their confidence. “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 also enhance your resilience and professional growth,” she advises.
Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of AI Development
Beyond her own journey, N’Guessan acknowledges the overarching challenges and opportunities facing the development of AI. She emphasizes the urgent need for global dialogue around the short-term and long-term impacts of AI on humans. While recognizing the incredible potential of AI to solve societal problems and drive economic growth, she cautions that current AI solutions are not without their limitations, particularly when it comes to bias and accuracy. These concerns have spurred ongoing discussions around:
- The future of humans in the AI loop: How will humans coexist and interact with advanced AI systems? What role will humans play in decision-making processes?
- AI governance and regulation: How can policymakers develop effective policies and laws to mitigate risks and ensure responsible AI development?
- AI ethics and accountability: What constitutes ethical AI development and deployment? Who should be held liable for potential negative consequences of AI models?
N’Guessan stresses the importance of AI literacy for all users, emphasizing the need to understand how AI solutions leverage personal data. “As a user, be curious to understand the extent of control you give the machine over your data. When considering consuming an AI solution, consider data privacy and the security offered by the platform. This is crucial for your protection,” she advises.
She also cautions against the dangers of AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes, which can be used for malicious purposes. “Always verify the source of generated content before sharing it, to avoid contributing to the problem,” she stresses. Moreover, she highlights the potential for AI overuse and dependence, urging individuals to maintain a healthy balance and critical thinking skills to prevent potential mental health issues.
Building Responsible AI for the African Market
N’Guessan’s work within the African Union High Panel on Emerging Technologies underscores her commitment to responsible AI development. She recognizes the need for frameworks that guide AI development in a manner that is equitable, inclusive, and mindful of the unique context of the African continent.
She advocates for several key principles in building responsible AI for the African market:
- Context Matters: AI models must reflect the diversity of the African population, encompassing different genders, regions, races, and ages to avoid perpetuating existing societal biases.
- Accessibility: AI solutions should be accessible to all, including those in remote areas, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the technology.
- Accountability: Clear accountability structures should be established to address potential societal harms caused by biased or inaccurate AI models.
- Explainability: AI model results must be comprehensible to both technical experts and the general public, promoting transparency and trust.
- Data Privacy and Safety: Stringent data privacy and safety policies should be implemented to protect user data and uphold ethical considerations.
N’Guessan calls for a more thorough approach to AI investment. “Ideally, any AI company should have an ethical framework as a mandatory requirement to be considered for investment. However, one of the challenges is that many investors may lack knowledge and understanding about AI technology,” she notes. She encourages investors to move beyond simply chasing trends, diving deeper into evaluating the both technical aspects and potential societal impact of AI solutions. Working with industry experts can provide valuable insights to ensure that investments are aligned with ethical principles and responsible AI practices.
Charlette N’Guessan’s unwavering commitment to using AI for positive social impact, her passionate advocacy for inclusivity and representation in the tech industry, and her tireless efforts in building a responsible AI framework for Africa position her as an inspiring role model for future generations of AI leaders. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of AI and the immense contributions women continue to make across diverse fields driven by a shared vision of a more equitable and sustainable future.
To give AI-focused women academics and others their well-deserved — and overdue — time in the spotlight, TechCrunch is launching a series of interviews focusing on remarkable women who’ve contributed to the AI revolution.
**Charlette N’Guessan**, the Data Solutions and Ecosystem Lead at **Amini**, is a trailblazing figure in the African AI landscape. Her journey highlights the challenges and opportunities faced by women navigating a male-dominated field while demonstrating the immense potential of AI to solve critical problems, particularly in developing nations.
N’Guessan’s early foray into AI stemmed from a desire to use technology for positive social impact. While leading product development for her startup, **Bace API**, her team tackled the pressing issue of online identity fraud in the African financial sector. Through AI-powered facial recognition, Bace API aimed to provide secure identity verification and combat bias prevalent in the market. While Bace API ultimately ceased commercialization, the experience ignited N’Guessan’s passion for AI, solidifying her belief in its power for social transformation.
Today, N’Guessan leads Amini’s efforts to address data scarcity in Africa, a challenge she faced firsthand as a founder. Amini leverages space technology and AI to create accessible and comprehensible data infrastructure. This innovative approach promises to revolutionize data access in the African market, fueling development of data-driven solutions.
N’Guessan’s experience navigating the male-dominated tech industry serves as a powerful reminder of the persistent societal biases and gender stereotypes that women face. She underscores the importance of challenging these norms, highlighting the remarkable contributions of women throughout history and advocating for equal opportunities in the future.
“We are facing today in the industry has been shaped by societal biases and gender stereotypes. This is a societal mindset that has been nurtured for years. Most of the women working in the AI industry have been told at least once that they were in the wrong industry because they were expected to be A, B, C and D. Why should we have to choose? Why should society dictate our paths for us?” she shares, emphasizing the need for continued advocacy and encouragement to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers and break down discriminatory barriers.
N’Guessan advocates for women seeking to enter the AI field to focus on acquiring the necessary skills and building their confidence. “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 also enhance your resilience and professional growth,” she advises.
Navigating the Challenges and Opportunities of AI Development
Beyond her own journey, N’Guessan acknowledges the overarching challenges and opportunities facing the development of AI. She emphasizes the urgent need for global dialogue around the short-term and long-term impacts of AI on humans. While recognizing the incredible potential of AI to solve societal problems and drive economic growth, she cautions that current AI solutions are not without their limitations, particularly when it comes to bias and accuracy. These concerns have spurred ongoing discussions around:
- The future of humans in the AI loop: How will humans coexist and interact with advanced AI systems? What role will humans play in decision-making processes?
- AI governance and regulation: How can policymakers develop effective policies and laws to mitigate risks and ensure responsible AI development?
- AI ethics and accountability: What constitutes ethical AI development and deployment? Who should be held liable for potential negative consequences of AI models?
N’Guessan stresses the importance of AI literacy for all users, emphasizing the need to understand how AI solutions leverage personal data. “As a user, be curious to understand the extent of control you give the machine over your data. When considering consuming an AI solution, consider data privacy and the security offered by the platform. This is crucial for your protection,” she advises.
She also cautions against the dangers of AI-generated content, particularly deepfakes, which can be used for malicious purposes. “Always verify the source of generated content before sharing it, to avoid contributing to the problem,” she stresses. Moreover, she highlights the potential for AI overuse and dependence, urging individuals to maintain a healthy balance and critical thinking skills to prevent potential mental health issues.
Building Responsible AI for the African Market
N’Guessan’s work within the African Union High Panel on Emerging Technologies underscores her commitment to responsible AI development. She recognizes the need for frameworks that guide AI development in a manner that is equitable, inclusive, and mindful of the unique context of the African continent.
She advocates for several key principles in building responsible AI for the African market:
- Context Matters: AI models must reflect the diversity of the African population, encompassing different genders, regions, races, and ages to avoid perpetuating existing societal biases.
- Accessibility: AI solutions should be accessible to all, including those in remote areas, ensuring that everyone can benefit from the technology.
- Accountability: Clear accountability structures should be established to address potential societal harms caused by biased or inaccurate AI models.
- Explainability: AI model results must be comprehensible to both technical experts and the general public, promoting transparency and trust.
- Data Privacy and Safety: Stringent data privacy and safety policies should be implemented to protect user data and uphold ethical considerations.
N’Guessan calls for a more thorough approach to AI investment. “Ideally, any AI company should have an ethical framework as a mandatory requirement to be considered for investment. However, one of the challenges is that many investors may lack knowledge and understanding about AI technology,” she notes. She encourages investors to move beyond simply chasing trends, diving deeper into evaluating the both technical aspects and potential societal impact of AI solutions. Working with industry experts can provide valuable insights to ensure that investments are aligned with ethical principles and responsible AI practices.
Charlette N’Guessan’s unwavering commitment to using AI for positive social impact, her passionate advocacy for inclusivity and representation in the tech industry, and her tireless efforts in building a responsible AI framework for Africa position her as an inspiring role model for future generations of AI leaders. Her story serves as a testament to the transformative power of AI and the immense contributions women continue to make across diverse fields driven by a shared vision of a more equitable and sustainable future.
