Episode 2:Empire of AI: Dreams, Nightmares, and the African Worker скачать в хорошем качестве

Episode 2:Empire of AI: Dreams, Nightmares, and the African Worker

In this episode of My African Bookshelf, we examine the rise of artificial intelligence through an African lens, using Karen Hao’s Empire of AI as our guide. The conversation unpacks the hidden labor behind today’s AI systems, the global inequalities embedded in their development, and the quiet ways African workers, resources, and environments are woven into the AI economy. Moving between the lived experiences of data annotators in the Global South and the narratives promoted by Silicon Valley, the episode draws clear parallels between the current AI boom and earlier periods of resource extraction in Africa. It asks difficult questions about power, visibility, ethics, and who ultimately benefits from technological progress. More than a review, this episode positions storytelling as a form of resistance and inquiry—an essential tool for understanding how technology shapes societies, and how Africa can move from the margins of innovation narratives to a position of agency and authorship. 00:00 The Journey of a Young Graduate in Nairobi 04:06 The Dual Realities of AI Development 05:25 Exploring 'Empire of AI' by Karen Howe 08:50 The AI Boom and Its Parallels to the Oil Boom 13:17 Power Dynamics in AI and Global South 18:13 Visibility and the Invisible Workers of AI 22:14 The Intersection of Ethics and Structure in AI 27:16 Africa's Role in the AI Empire 30:10 Technological Sovereignty and Storytelling