Odero Brenda, Nderitu David, Samuel Gabrielle
Strathmore University, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya.
School of Law, University of KwaZulu-Natal - Pietermaritzburg Campus, Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Wellcome Open Res. 2024 Oct 28;9:625. doi: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23021.1. eCollection 2024.
The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in health research has grown rapidly, particularly in African nations, which have also been developing data protection laws and AI strategies. However, the ethical frameworks governing AI use in health research are often based on Western philosophies, focusing on individualism, and may not fully address the unique challenges and cultural contexts of African communities. This paper advocates for the incorporation of African philosophies, specifically into AI health research ethics frameworks to better align with African values and contexts. This study explores the concept of a philosophy that emphasises communalism, interconnectedness, and collective well-being, and its application to AI health research ethics. By analysing existing global AI ethics frameworks and contrasting them with the philosophy, a new ethics framework is proposed that integrates these perspectives. The framework is designed to address ethical challenges at individual, community, national, and environmental levels, with a particular focus on the African context. The proposed framework highlights four key principles derived from : communalism and openness, harmony and support, research prioritisation and community empowerment, and community-oriented decision-making. These principles are aligned with global ethical standards such as justice, beneficence, transparency, and accountability but are adapted to reflect the communal and relational values inherent in . The framework aims to ensure that AI-driven health research benefits communities equitably, respects local contexts and promotes long-term sustainability. Integrating into AI health research ethics can address the limitations of current frameworks that emphasise individualism. This approach not only aligns with African values but also offers a model that could be applied more broadly to enhance the ethical governance of AI in health research worldwide. By prioritising communal well-being, inclusivity, and environmental stewardship, the proposed framework has the potential to foster more responsible and contextually relevant AI health research practices in Africa.
人工智能（AI）在健康研究中的整合发展迅速，尤其是在非洲国家，这些国家也一直在制定数据保护法和人工智能战略。然而，指导健康研究中人工智能使用的伦理框架往往基于西方哲学，侧重于个人主义，可能无法充分应对非洲社区的独特挑战和文化背景。本文主张将非洲哲学纳入人工智能健康研究伦理框架，以更好地与非洲价值观和背景相契合。本研究探讨了一种强调社群主义、相互联系和集体福祉的哲学概念及其在人工智能健康研究伦理中的应用。通过分析现有的全球人工智能伦理框架并将其与该哲学进行对比，提出了一个整合这些观点的新伦理框架。该框架旨在应对个人、社区、国家和环境层面的伦理挑战，特别关注非洲背景。拟议的框架突出了从该哲学衍生出的四项关键原则：社群主义与开放性、和谐与支持、研究优先级与社区赋权以及以社区为导向的决策。这些原则与全球伦理标准如正义、仁爱、透明度和问责制相一致，但经过调整以反映该哲学中固有的社群和关系价值观。该框架旨在确保人工智能驱动的健康研究公平地造福社区，尊重当地背景并促进长期可持续性。将该哲学纳入人工智能健康研究伦理可以解决当前强调个人主义的框架的局限性。这种方法不仅符合非洲价值观，还提供了一个可以更广泛应用的模式，以加强全球健康研究中人工智能的伦理治理。通过优先考虑集体福祉、包容性和环境管理，拟议的框架有可能在非洲促进更负责任且与背景相关的人工智能健康研究实践。
