Afrigather Way of life Nigeria gathered {that a} group involved with socioeconomic improvement in Africa has launched an Synthetic Intelligence (AI)-powered fact-checking platform to counter the unfold of misinformation and disinformation on the continent.
Talking on the unveiling of the AI-powered platform, named, ‘MyAIFactChecker’ on Monday in Ilorin, the World Director of a Nigeria-based non-profit group, Mind Builders Youth Growth Initiative (BBYDI), Abideen Olasupo, mentioned that FactCheck Africa, an initiative of the BBYDI, was launched in 2022 as an unbiased, non-partisan and non-profit fact-checking platform for Africans.
“MyAIFactChecker was a product of months of devoted effort and analysis, with assist from BECERA and the US State Division, noting that the initiative would revolutionise how Africans confirm information and different on-line info.
“MyAIFactChecker is an illustration of our group’s unwavering dedication to combating the scourge of misinformation, disinformation, and pretend information, thereby safeguarding the integrity of knowledge. This platform leverages cutting-edge AI expertise, is user-friendly, and means that you can confirm the authenticity of reports, social media posts, and different on-line content material shortly and conveniently.”
Olasupo additionally mentioned that the modern platform would supply customers with a variety of functionalities, together with a chatbot interface, suggestions mechanism, and voice search functionality that’s out there in English, Swahili, French, Arabic, and several other well-liked native languages in Nigeria.
In keeping with him, the launch of MyAIFactChecker comes at a crucial time, because the proliferation of disinformation and dangerous content material continues to pose important threats to the integrity of elections, democracy, public well being, and stability in African nations.
The BBDYI international director, who mentioned the affect of pretend information and disinformation on elections couldn’t be waved, expressed optimism that his organisation’s newly launched AI fact-checking would assist fight the unfold of disinformation in African nations getting ready to carry elections this yr.
“It’s worthy to notice that 2024 is a yr of elections in Africa as about 24 international locations on the continent will maintain elections this yr.
Throughout electioneering intervals, there may be at all times a proliferation of pretend information, and its attendant penalties may negatively affect the electoral course of.
With the launch of MyAIFactChecker, we’re poised to curb the unfold of misinformation and disinformation earlier than, throughout, and after elections in these affected international locations.
“We imagine that entry to correct info is a basic proper, and we’re devoted to empowering people with the instruments to discern fact from falsehood on this digital age. We are going to proceed to advertise media literacy and significant considering throughout Africa,” he mentioned.
Olasupo, who mentioned that he attended the 2024 United Nations ECOSOC Youth Discussion board held in New York final week, added that he spoke on ‘The moral use of AI and its implications for schooling in Africa’, saying that his organisation would proceed to push for insurance policies across the moral use of AI in Nigeria and Africa as a complete to maximise its advantages and mitigate its dangers.
He lauded Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Financial system, Bosun Tijani, for spearheading the initiative to ship a complete Synthetic Intelligence Technique for the nation, stressing that such endeavour was essential in positioning Nigeria to successfully leverage AI for nationwide improvement.
“In recognition of the immense potential of AI in addressing societal challenges, BBYDI will proceed to advocate for insurance policies and moral frameworks to information the deployment of AI applied sciences throughout Africa. It’s crucial that we harness the ability of AI for the collective good of our society,” he famous.
Earlier in his deal with, the Head of Programmes at FactCheck Africa, Habeeb Adisa, mentioned the introduction of the modern AI resolution “represents a major development in our stride to battle the dissemination of pretend information that continues to undermine societal belief and trigger discord amongst folks.
“Our platform is designed to cater for a various linguistic panorama throughout the continent. Customers can merely enter a brand new question, and our platform will present them with an evaluation of the article’s authenticity. It would additionally allow them to know if it’s credible, partially credible, or unreliable.”
He additionally disclosed that FactCheck Africa had launched a 3-month AI Journalism Fellowship for journalists in West Africa. In keeping with him, the fellowship is a complete coaching programme that may equip chosen journalists with the data, abilities, and moral concerns wanted to navigate AI in journalism.
Additionally talking, the Government Director of BBYDI, Nura Jimoh, acknowledged that the disclosing of MyAIFactChecker bolstered the dedication of their organisation to leverage tech options and digital instruments to deal with societal challenges.
She recalled that BBYDI final yr, in collaboration with Christian Help, organised the primary CivicTech Hackathon in Nigeria to deal with voter apathy and encourage elevated residents’ participation within the electoral course of.
“We additionally launched evit.ng to trace and report violence pre and post-election. We additionally unveiled conflictreport.org to curb the farmer-herders disaster within the northern a part of the nation.
“Moreover, we launched KnowCovid19NG with assist from the US Embassy to flatten the curve and supply psychosocial assist through the COVID-19 pandemic. Two years earlier than the 2023 normal elections, we launched Yvotenaija.org to advertise civic schooling throughout grassroots communities and on varied social media platforms,” Jimoh remarked.
