The face-off between man and technology has lasted through-out history. From the first striking of stones to produce fire to the making of metal works, man has struggled to tame technology or machine, if you please.

The invention of the computer only served to bring the battle closer home. There has always been the fear that one day the computer (machines) would among other things, take jobs, change the world and maybe even take over the world and rule man.

This fear has persisted.

A deep and often unspoken fear is that the end is near when machines begin to think. And thinking machines is precisely what artificial intelligence (AI) is all about. The emergence of thinking computers therefore only served to heighten that fear.

Consider when the world chess champion, Gary Kasparov, faced the first thinking machine, an IBM supercomputer called Deep Blue. The first match was played in Philadelphia in 1996 and won by Kasparov. The rematch was played in New York City in 1997 and won by Deep Blue. The 1997 match was the first defeat of a reigning world chess champion by a computer under tournament conditions. When Deep Blue took the match by winning the final game, Kasparov refused to believe it.

It was an epic moment. It sent shock waves around the world. Naturally, there were controversies. Some argued that everything was done to make the battleground comfortable for the machine; it was chilled to, like we say in Nigeria, mortuary temperature.

The truth be told, computer scientists had for decades viewed chess as a meter stick for artificial intelligence. Gary’s defeat, in many circles, meant that humans were entering the age of the machines.

Since that time, so much has happened. Computers have since grown so much more powerful. Infact, today, we have apps on our mobile phones that are far more powerful than Deep Blue. Thinking computers are everywhere. Welcome to the age of Artificial Intelligence!

To understand what AI is and how it works, let’s hear the experts:

“AI is the use of intricate logic or advanced analytical methods to perform simple tasks at greater scale in ways that mean we can do more at large scale with the workers we have, allowing them to focus on what humans are best at, like handling complex exceptions or demonstrating sympathy.” –Whit Andrews, vice president and distinguished analyst with Gartner Research

“AI is a mathematical and algorithmic model that allows computers to learn to do tasks without being explicitly programmed to do those tasks.” –Timothy Havens, the William and Gloria Jackson Associate Professor of Computer Systems in the College of Computing at Michigan Technological University and director of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems.

Today, AI is becoming more pervasive. It is already in use in several sectors, particularly the financial service and marketing spheres. Reports indicate that the demand for AI-enabled initiatives would continue to increase in the coming days.

It is interesting to note that AI is rapidly making its way into the workplace. Today, it touches customer care, staff recruitment and consumer insights and marketing. Tomorrow, it would reach and cover more business segments.

Inspite of this, mentioning AI in the workplace still produces fear – particularly for job security. Until recently, people predicted that the automation brought by AI would render many job functions redundant. Currently, thankfully, the fear that AI will lead to redundancy has reduced with experts re-evaluating their perspective.

The truth is that AI is not replacing jobs. On the contrary, reports show that it is targeting specific tasks, improving and making them easier and faster. According to PWC, “72% of business decision-makers consider AI as a key tool for allowing humans to focus on more meaningful work.” Precisely!

So, while AI will eliminate certain types of job, it would create others. It will limit some functions, expand others and definitely restructure some industries and realign others. Overall, there would be net job gain.

AI will bring good and bad. Individuals and businesses must explore how they can use it for good. Take advantage of its potential to improve productivity, boost capacity and increase revenue.

As Red Hat technologist, Gordon Haff wrote, “AI projects in the past have often tried to boil the ocean – to solve multi-faceted problems like self-driving cars. Today’s enterprise AI projects are more practical, often focusing on customer experience pain points. “What’s happening with AI today is exciting in part because it involves practical solutions that address complexity, the need to handle more and more data, and demanding customers,” Haff noted.

Evidently, the use of AI in business will continue to grow. In its current iteration, AI is significantly more practical, more useful, and more impactful. Its definition as the technology that allows computers to do things that were once only the domain of humans is proving truer each day. For example, computers have always been able to calculate, today, with AI, they can learn and draw conclusions.

AI is essentially a thinking machine. It thinks by learning and making deductions from the data available to it

To work, AI needs data. It consumes data in order to learn. Big data refers to the massive sets of data that are now available and to all intents and purposes suited for this purpose. These sets of data can be analyzed by machines. This can reveal patterns and trends, and facilitate making future predictions. With big data, AI is in its element.

It is no surprise therefore that AI and Big Data are already driving the provision of new, innovative and efficient services, particularly in the financial sector.

In Nigeria, some fintechs are already adopting AI and Big Data. Take Renmoney. With AI and big data, it has unprecedented customer insight so that it is able to assess and disburse loans much faster, deliver incredible and efficient customer experience and indeed broaden the scope of its operations.

In adopting AI, firms demonstrate their commitment to executing what is truly a data-driven strategy. AI will enable organisations to make optimal use of data. In the age of social media, data is everywhere. To be able to gather and harness it would be tremendous. AI is helping to create the business of the future.

Elvis Eromosele, a Corporate Communication professional and public affairs analyst lives in Lagos.

Isa Pantami
Minister of Communications & Digital Economy

In a new year, everyone expects everything to be different. This may not always be the case. One thing is clear, however- while 2019 may have passed, it would cast a shadow over 2020.

The Information & Communications Technology (ICT) sector in Nigeria remains perhaps, the most vibrant sector in the economy. Information from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reveals that the contribution of ICT to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) surpassed that of oil and gas in the second quarter of 2019. The sector contributed 13.85 per cent to total nominal GDP which is much higher than the 11.22 per cent contributed in the same period in 2018.

Available information indicates that it would again do better in 2020.

I do not have a crystal ball but here are five things that, I like to think, would shape the Nigerian ICT space in 2020:

• Ministerial Interventions

The Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has on the resumption of office shown that it would not be business as usual in the ICT space. He quickly demonstrated an unprecedented interest in the welfare of the Nigerian telecoms consumer.

He singlehandedly cancelled the proposed USSD charge, kicked against the rising data cost, pushed for the elimination of illegal deductions and abolition of automatic activation of voicemail services. These earned him plenty of accolades from a wide segment of stakeholders and some knocks from interest groups. If history is anything to go by, he will continue on this tangent.

In 2020, he would continue to push for a massive reduction in data cost, demand lower call charges and insist that the telecom operators quashed compulsory voicemail services.

The Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) is likely to struggle to remain neutral in the light of the minister’s action. Its efforts to remain neutral will likely backfire. The Minister would put the Commission on the spot time and again this year.

This sort of ministerial intervention is not peculiar to Nigeria. In South Africa, there are calls for lower data cost. Two of Africa’s largest two mobile operators, Vodacom and MTN, have been ordered by the Competition Commission in South Africa to cut their data prices in their home country by a third to half or face prosecution.

The commission called the current data pricing ‘biased against the poor’. Also, the European Union has opened preliminary investigations into Google and Facebook’s data practices, assessing whether the two U.S. tech firms are complying with its rules in the region.

• Lower Data Cost

The call for lower data cost is getting louder. I doubt if the telecoms firms can hide from this much longer. The pressure from the consumers and now the Minister would not only remain but would likely escalate in 2020. The question is not if but when the operators will reduce the cost of data significantly.

When a key player in the telecoms sector made the assertion that ‘data is life’, it was spot on. Although, one wonders if it realised how right it is. That statement is potent – Data is indeed life. The range of things that data enables the average person to do are humongous: think – Google services including search, maps and courses, free training programmes, connection on social media and business possibilities.

The calls for lower Data Cost will persist, how the operators will react is anyone’s guess.

Let the price come down.

• 5G et Al

News reports indicate that with the trial launch in 2019 by MTN Nigeria, Nigeria has emerged as only one of the few African countries that have committed to the new mobile technology – 5G. This is the fifth-generation networks.

Nigeria hopes to start rolling out 5G in select cities in 2020. It is almost natural, therefore, to expect other operators to begin to scramble to get their names on the 5G scene – never mind that 4G is still largely under-utilised.

According to Evan Kirstel, Social Media Business Strategist (Advisor) at NameUCStrategies.com, “5G networks will be vital for supporting the growing demand for mobile. But 5G’s unparalleled data capacity, speed and low latency will also help to enable a new breed of smart cities applications. The 5G-based infrastructure is set to offer a wide range of opportunities…”

Undoubtedly, 5G will demand and indeed attract new investments, create jobs and jump-start innovation in several industries. Long live 5G!

• Cloud Computing, Big Data and AI

Cloud computing is a term used with increasing frequency in the past few years. Essentially, it is a technology that allows a business to store its servers and data off-site in secure data centres which can then be accessed by users through the Internet. This adaptation has spread across most industries and accountancy is no exception.

Demand for anytime and anywhere access to information is the biggest driver of cloud computing. Today in Nigeria, thankfully, cloud computing is now more than a buzzword. It is perhaps the fastest growing technology services today.

Among other factors, it is considered cost-effective.

According to Bart McDonough, CEO, Agio, “rapid adoption of cloud computing will continue to be fueled by the understanding of “ease of use and scalability.”

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Big Data are following closely. Artificial intelligence is described as the technology that allows computers to do things that were once only the domain of humans. For example, computers have always been able to calculate. With AI, they can learn and draw conclusions.

To work, AI needs data. It consumes data in order to learn. Big data refers to the massive sets of data that are now available for this purpose. These sets of data can be analyzed by machines. This can reveal patterns and trends, and facilitate making future predictions.

AI and Big Data are already driving the provision of new and innovative services, particularly in the financial sector.

• Business on Social Media

Social media will fully emerge as the go-to platform for interaction, connection and transaction with customers. This year, plenty of small businesses will begin to explore and exploit opportunities in the social media space. Expectedly, the volume of transactions will hit new highs.

Selling on social media is not just a fad. It is here to stay.

It would continue to thrive because it offers convenience and prospective buyers have the opportunity to read feedback from others who may have bought.

The business of social media and on social media is a true win-win.

The best part is that efforts to regulate social media will continue to fail

Extra: Capacity building and training in ICT would remain big, sales of smartphone accessories would continue to rise and new businesses (StartUps) would spring up across the county in 2020.

Elvis Eromosele, a Corporate Communication professional and public affairs analyst lives in Lagos.