Developing AI and Developing Countries
Thoughts from the opening ceremony at Khipu Latin American AI Conference
Imagine yourself going to Europe or the United States, studying themes in the frontier of your field. Moreover, you are applying knowledge in a well-developed industry, and advancing a well-paid career very intellectually rewarding and demanding. After finishing your Ph.D. you can go back to your home country, where the industry does not have demand for the technical expertise of your level, or you can keep learning with top-notch researchers and advancing your career.
The dilemma should be clear: It is heavy the decision of turning your back to your home country. The country that nurtured you in this specific way, the country which provided you with (sometimes free!) education. Or else the piece of land where so many people you like make a living, or the space where more is needed than what is available, where poverty and inequality prosper instead of people. It is undoubtedly understandable the free-rider choice. But it is taken too lightly.
Today I’m in Uruguai at the Khipu conference, just getting back from the first discussion panel. Much has been said that I would like to unfold, but one story in special required writing-guided thought, so here I am.
Free-riders and Astronauts
I was touched by Alejandro Noriega’s point on the difficulty of developing an ecosystem of development around AI, to nurture researchers and developers, to improve life quality and solve problems. Especially because of the difficulty, how important it is that we take real agency in this effort, instead of pursuing only what is good for ourselves. From a group of 6 PhDs abroad from Mexico, he was the only one that went back.
I think the main reason I was touched is that I identified my shadow. I have already entertained plans of life away, especially because it is so hard to reach the frontiers of knowledge being here in Brasil. In these plans, I usually have very big aspirational enterprises in mind, abstract ideas to make the world a better place, but all conditioned in my individual success and progression to high-achieving roles. Should I think more about ongoing responsibilities, instead of distant abstract ideas? As time passes and I see myself still far away from my grandiose dreams, and yet no closer to local responsibilities, is my virtue still intact?
I really don’t think everyone that goes away is a free-rider. Many are explorators that set examples and help others do the same, increasing visibility and strengthening the community in the light of the rest of the world. These astronauts make possible to reach the frontiers, enabling neighbors to go farther. This is not by default, as many people that go abroad have no such sense of community, but it can be enacted from a moment onwards. When I leave abroad I must remember that I did not end up there by pure meritocracy, but instead I was most surely benefitted by policies and contingencies that made me thrive when others did not.
Not everybody can be an astronaut though, since we need teachers and plumbers to make our societies function back home. We have to think deeply about our possible roles in society — not only our current roles— to give due attention to the responsibility that comes with the privilege of choice.
The Penitent and the Hero
We do not need penitents. It is stupid to go back to suffer, from moral guilt or whatsoever. Some see it as a sacrifice, but I don’t buy it. It can be beautiful and virtuous. The biggest challenge is that the paths are not clear. In this regard, Nando de Freitas provided some remarks adding up to Alejandro Noriega’s experience.
Make a startup. These companies that do not share their data are afraid, because they know they’re in serious risk — Nando de Freitas
The environment for AI is not well developed, but this does not mean it is not possible to do research or work on industry. It means it’s different than in well-developed countries. It means we have to pioneer the ecosystem we want. It also means there are a lot of problems to be tackled and a lot of social good to be created.
A continent of possibilities
This is surely emotional writing, as it does reflect my feelings after the panel discussion. I would be glad to hear your opinions on this topic. I want to understand better what is at stake, and how should we conceptualize ourselves in such a nested hierarchy of relationships like the one we live in.
But in the meantime, I give an outcry to those that can choose, and to those that have options, and to myself, and to those that understand how hard it is to work on research and technology in Latin America.
Following the lead from our African counterparts from Deep Learning Indaba, we must be creative to make spaces and advance our fields, and to develop the countries we live in — not only ourselves. Teach people. Work hard. Be an entrepreneur. Cultivate the ecosystem. Someone has to.
