Mapping the AI narrative in Kenya and South Africa's media

Article excerpt

A new study analyzing AI coverage in Kenya and South Africa's media reveals significant gaps in how these countries report on artificial intelligence's rapid expansion across the continent. Researchers found that coverage often focuses on dramatic risks, data colonialism, deepfakes, job displacement, while underexploring Africa's own AI innovations and the nuanced policy questions shaping the technology's deployment. The analysis identifies where journalists miss opportunities to provide deeper context and offers concrete recommendations for strengthening reporting on AI's economic, social, and ethical implications in African markets.