Reviewing artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century: a study of David Hanson’s Sophia – a gynoid

Reviewing artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century: a study of David Hanson’s Sophia – a gynoid

by | Dec 4, 2024 | IJAR 2024

Reviewing artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century: a study of David Hanson’s Sophia – a gynoid

Authors: Emily Oghale God’spresence and Azuka FN God’spresence

ISSN: 3078-2821
Affiliations: Reader, Department of Film and Multimedia Studies, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Port Harcourt; Instructional/Tutorial Facilitator and Project Supervisor, Faculty of Education, National Open University of Nigeria
Source: International Journal of African Reflections 2024, p. 137 – 163
https://doi.org/10.47348/IJAR/2024/a7

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Emily Oghale God’spresence and Azuka FN God’spresence
Reviewing artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century: a study of David Hanson’s Sophia – a gynoid
International Journal of African Reflections 2024, p. 137 – 163
https://doi.org/10.47348/IJAR/2024/a7

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI), otherwise referred to as ‘Intelligent Machine’ or ‘Electronic Brain’, is a technological innovation which came into the limelight in the mid-20th century. It is referred to as AI because it displays fabulous intelligence and emotions, yet only as digital electronics. However, there are critical ethical and economic considerations about AI: the first is the fear that they are built to undertake difficult and various tasks capably with great ease, economy of time and remarkable accuracy. In this way, they give rise to a speculative fear that these ‘thinking machines’ may take over human economic activity. The second consideration is the high cost of building a robotic project. This article sets out (1) to create and provoke academic debate on the desirability of Intelligent Machines in a world plagued by human rights violations, material poverty and structural violence; (2) to investigate the interaction between human beings and innovative technology; (3) to interrogate the usability of AI as a possible threat or asset to human existence and activity; and (4) to view the gender profiling of Sophia as a ‘multi-tasking’ fembot. The methodology adopted for this study is qualitative, using an analytical approach to examine the relationship between human beings and AI. Utilitarian Ethical Theory forms the theoretical framework for the study. This article suggests that the existence of humanity is in a precarious state and therefore recommends that control measures be imposed on the use of AI in order to prevent infringements of human rights and to limit the predictable but uncontrolled activities of robots in the immediate future.

Reviewing artificial intelligence (AI) in the 21st century: a study of David Hanson’s Sophia – a gynoid

Revamping the productivity of rural firms: a strategy for developing a transformational rural employment, welfare and capital accumulation attitude

by | Dec 4, 2024 | IJAR 2024

Revamping the productivity of rural firms: a strategy for developing a transformational rural employment, welfare and capital accumulation attitude

Authors: Yiseyon S Hosu and Fikiswa Mpopoma-Conway

ISSN: 3078-2821
Affiliations: Department of Business Management and Economics, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape province, South Africa: Small-scale agribusiness and rural non-farm enterprise research niche, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape province, South Africa; Department of Business Management and Economics, Walter Sisulu University, Eastern Cape province, South Africa
Source: International Journal of African Reflections 2024, p. 164 – 190
https://doi.org/10.47348/IJAR/2024/a8

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Yiseyon S Hosu and Fikiswa Mpopoma-Conway
Revamping the productivity of rural firms: a strategy for developing a transformational rural employment, welfare and capital accumulation attitude
International Journal of African Reflections 2024, p. 164 – 190
https://doi.org/10.47348/IJAR/2024/a8

Abstract

The productivity of rural firms in the Eastern Cape province’s rural areas was examined in this study. It investigated the way readily available natural resources attract abundant labour to create jobs and reduce poverty. This article aims to define the demographics, examine how working for a rural company can improve an individual’s well-being, investigate the advantages of working for a rural company and identify the variables that affect the workers’ welfare status. The study also examined the extent to which income, savings and consumption expenditure contribute to an individual’s financial well-being when they work for rural businesses. To meet its goals, the study postulated that working for rural businesses could improve the welfare of employees through the accumulation of economic components such as income, savings and consumption expenditure. According to the regression analysis, consumption spending is the most significant economic factor. Even though savings and income did not show much improvement, the findings demonstrate an improvement in the welfare of the respondents who worked for the rural enterprises. This article accordingly makes the following recommendations: adequate funding should be made available for rural areas; appropriate rural institutions should be in place to promote economic development; well-paying jobs that boost local productivity and reduce poverty must be created; and improved skills development that could have positive multiplier effects should be pursued.