Could AI threaten humanity? 8 Africans weigh the risks

AI could become a threat to humanity, eight Africans say, with concerns ranging from misinformation to self‑improving systems (source: https://techcabal.com/2026/09/24/could-ai-threaten-humanity-8-africans-weigh-the-risks/).

For Kenyan SMEs, the debate signals a need to balance rapid AI adoption with safeguards against misuse and unreliable outputs.

What this means for Kenyan businesses

Kenyan SMEs that use AI tools for marketing, customer support or inventory forecasting should institute a verification step for AI‑generated content. A simple internal checklist - cross‑checking facts, confirming data sources and reviewing language for bias - can reduce the risk of spreading false information or making costly operational errors.

AI developers and investors worldwide are warning that the technology is moving toward self‑improvement. Jacob Coxon, a former Anthropic researcher, resigned citing a “gamble with our lives” as companies chase systems that can upgrade themselves without human oversight. OpenAI’s chief scientist Jakub Pachocki echoed the warning, saying no one is prepared for the consequences of a continued rapid rise in machine intelligence.

The concerns are not limited to Silicon Valley. Africans are already integrating AI into daily work and entrepreneurship, and local innovators are attracting investment. To gauge sentiment, TechCabal asked eight people from five groups - everyday users, educators, innovators, policy experts and investors - whether AI could eventually threaten humanity, even to the point of killing us all.

Sarah Pra, who runs a restaurant in Kumasi, Ghana, is skeptical of apocalyptic claims. “Which AI is going to kill us exactly? Is it ChatGPT or Meta AI?” she asked. Pra uses Meta AI and ChatGPT for recipe ideas, flyer design and personal queries, but she remains cautious. She has caught ChatGPT providing incorrect cooking advice and notes that “ChatGPT can lie.” Her trust hinges on taking useful bits and discarding the rest.

Pra’s main worry is not the technology itself but how people might weaponise it. She has seen AI generate fake nude images and spread false information, describing these as user‑driven problems. “If anyone is using it to build anything bad, the owners of the AI should know what to do,” she said. Nonetheless, she would welcome more capable AI if it helped people work faster and more efficiently.

Elijah Akuma, a master’s student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, shares a similar view. He argues that AI is a human creation and therefore inherits human limitations. “Every good product has its deficiencies too,” he said, dismissing the notion that AI could outright kill humanity as unrealistic. Akuma, who writes, researches and teaches, uses AI in his academic work but sees it as a tool, not an existential threat.

The eight respondents collectively illustrate a spectrum of attitudes: cautious optimism, practical skepticism and concern over misuse. None offered a concrete scenario of AI causing mass harm, but they agreed that unchecked development and insufficient regulation could amplify risks.

For Kenyan corporations, especially those in finance and logistics that rely heavily on AI for decision‑making, the lesson is clear. Robust governance frameworks - documented data provenance, audit trails for AI outputs and clear escalation paths for anomalies - are essential. Companies should also monitor regulatory developments across Africa, as policymakers begin to address AI safety and ethical use.

Kenyan schools can learn from the educators in the survey who see AI as an augmentative tool rather than a replacement. Integrating AI literacy into curricula will help future workers discern reliable outputs from fabricated ones, reducing the likelihood of misinformation spreading through student projects or social media.

In the broader African context, investors are beginning to fund AI startups that promise local solutions, from agricultural forecasting to health diagnostics. Yet the same investors are hearing warnings from insiders like Coxon and Pachocki. This tension may shape funding criteria, favouring ventures that embed safety checks and transparent model governance.

The conversation in Africa mirrors global debates but carries unique implications for the continent’s fast‑growing digital economy. As AI tools become more embedded in everyday business processes, Kenyan decision‑makers must ask: are we ready to verify, govern and, if needed, intervene when AI outputs go awry?

Talk to us on WhatsApp at 0711 344 702, we work with Kenyan businesses on exactly these challenges.