Before the ‘Botlash’ – The Global South’s Missing AI Moment
uch of the Western discourse on Artificial Intelligence (AI) has lately focused on establishing safeguards and installing guardrails against powerful new AI systems, algorithmic bias, collusion of governments and tech oligarchs, and rising environmental costs related to AI ecosystems. The growing backlash in the West against the adverse effects of AI is labelled as ‘Botlash’ in the most recent commentary by Marietje Schaake. This commentary refers to various anti-AI movements that have gained tractions in the recent past including ‘QuitGPT’, ‘Resist and Unsubscribe’, and ‘Stealing Isn’t Innovation.’ While ‘botlash’ may be an apt description of how AI is now being perceived in the developed countries, the story for the Global South is completely opposite where AI is being viewed as some magical cure for poor governance, corruption, and weak economic development. Countries in the Global South are yet to undergo indigenous AI governance, development and deployment. Therefore,

