Cosmo-uBuntu, Machine Translation, and Cognitive Code Switching

Jacqueline Berry, José Cossa, & Vukosi Marivate

@AfrikaAi4

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

Rationale

Interest in processes as integral parts of problem-solving and eventual solutions; thus, essential to make salient the importance of philosophical foundations (e.g., the nature of knowledge, values, and reality) in solution-seeking and technological advances.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AIJosé Cossa

“Cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am)

Vs.

MachinesImage retrieved: https://www.cumanagement.com/articles/2018/09/humans-versus-ai

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

• In engaging the so-called Artificial Intelligence (AI), we must first understand that machines have no intelligence, but humans do; such human intelligence facilitates the process and efficiency of machine learning which empowers machines with AI.

• Since the human in Modernity realizes itself through the mind as in the Cartesian motto “cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am) it is no wonder that machines are personified as intelligent inventions and seen as substitutes for humans, especially the human perceived as non-intelligent.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

• San (to return)-ko (to go)-fa (to look, seek, take).

uBuntu = ‘a person is a person through/unto/because of persons’

vs. “Cogito ergo sum” (I think, therefore I am)]

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

The conceptualization of human in the African-derived epistemology known as uBuntu is rooted in the motto, ‘a person is a person through/unto/because of

persons’ (Cossa)

• (Yusef Waghid) uBuntu is an African practice whereby humans recognize one another’s similarities and differences and, implicitly and explicitly, accentuate the importance of recognizing one another’s practices and preparedness to live together.

• (Lesley Le Grange) If uBuntu means that our deepest moral obligation is to become more fully human, then this entails not only fostering a closer and deeper relationship with human communities but also with biotic communities and the entire ecosphere. In other words, the realization of one’s true self cannot be achieved if fellow human beings and the more-than-human-world are exploited or harmed.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

uBuntu (personhood) is not imposed-universalism, but inclusive-global

Dialogue…

• European: who are you?

• African: Bantu (People, like you are people)

• European: Ahhh… the bantu people

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

With the concept ‘Cosmo-uBuntu’ I aim to reflect that uBuntu is rooted in a definition of human that transcends the African context—personhood, defined as uBuntu, is not imposed-universalism, but inclusive-global (that is, all humans are ‘bantu/persons’). As a theorizing stance, Cosmo-uBuntuis the voluntary embracing of uBuntu as a foundational value system in our participation in planetary conviviality, without forcing universality.

• Personhood applies to all humans and precludes individuation, classifications, and hierarchies. In other words, humans are humans because of humans, thus race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic class, ethnic and/or geopolitical origin, etc. are incommensurate categories.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

Modernity and modernization Cycle…

1. Invention

2. Damage/Harm(to African/black lives)

3. Remediation(through ethical arguments

incommensurate with uBuntu)

4. complacency

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

In order to enhance efficiency without disturbing the balance, AI and technology, in general, must align with African cosmology, uBuntu (at the epistemological level), and Cosmo-uBuntu (at the theorizing and praxis levels).

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

The Cosmo-uBuntu and uBuntu alternative:

• To engage in an AI that does not preclude the human since African cosmology embraces the humanity of all humans and takes seriously the non-human, as part of the ecosystem in the cosmos.

Global Africa must play a significant role in the process of:

conceptualizing… inventing… innovating… operating…

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

For AI to serve humanity and avoid the perils of the so-called modernization such as the cycles of ‘invention-damage (to African/black lives)-remediation (through ethical arguments incommensurate with uBuntu)-complacency,’ Global Africa must play a significant role in the process of conceptualizing, inventing, innovating, and operating technology.

Such a role calls for a global collaboration that includes those on the continent and the diaspora and a mutual vigilance and accountability to stay ‘woke’ amidst the perils of operating in a modernistic framework.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

Bantu/humans must:

(1) Assure that AI conceptualization and advances are founded on uBuntu-informed justice and Cosmo-uBuntu theorizing and praxis

(2) Avoid the perils of past innovations, which have hurt Africa and black people profusely

Photo by: António CossaJosé Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020

Cosmo-uBuntu and AI

The potential impact of such a placement of Africa in negotiating the conceptualization and the unfolding of AI is to leverage power dynamics in negotiation of concepts, theorizing, policy, and practice. Africa cannot afford to only focus on the practical and continue to sacrifice African theorizing and praxis, thus rely on non-African thought processes, values, and realities.

Expected outcomes: fostering and inspiring conversations and actions that will lead to adequate conceptualizations, equitable partnerships and collaborations, and a deeper level of ‘wokeness’ and proactive justice as we engage in the AI sphere.

José Cossa, Ph.D.7/15/2020