AI as a Necessity in African Research Management

We stand at a defining juncture in global knowledge production. Artificial intelligence (AI), once the preserve of science fiction, has become integral to how research is conducted, managed and disseminated. Nowhere is the question “Is AI a necessity or a luxury?” more urgent than in Africa, where resource constraints often coexist with vibrant intellectual potential and an urgent need for locally relevant innovation.

AI, understood as augmented intelligence, an extension of human cognition, is no longer a luxury. For Africa, it is necessary to transform research management and assert the continent’s place in global knowledge systems.

The COVID-19 pandemic laid this reality bare. As Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg during that period, I witnessed the abrupt digitization of academic life. With AI at its core, the Fourth Industrial Revolution transitioned from abstraction to immediacy. Institutions that had already embraced digital tools were better equipped. This moment revealed a broader truth: African research risks being sidelined in a rapidly evolving global scientific ecosystem if digital and AI technologies are not adopted. AI has become a tool for efficiency and a lifeline for continuity and resilience.

Robin Bordoli’s insight that AI augments rather than replaces human intellect, is particularly relevant in Africa. AI can relieve overburdened academics of routine tasks and amplify scarce research capacity. This is not about a dystopian future where algorithms replace researchers but about enhancing our capabilities and freeing human talent for deeper, more impactful inquiry. As Amanda Heidt noted in Nature, AI represents a revolution in research. For Africa, this revolution is also about inclusion: enabling multilingual scholarship, improving access to global knowledge and supporting institutions in remote or under-resourced areas.

AI systems are not neutral. They reflect the biases of the data on which they are trained; data that often underrepresents African realities.

The implications for research management are profound. AI can assist African universities in scanning global literature, streamlining grant applications, managing research outputs and guiding strategic decisions through predictive analytics. Tools that summarize academic literature, analyze data or translate manuscripts help overcome infrastructural and linguistic barriers. AI becomes both collaborator and equalizer in this sense, enabling African voices to contribute more effectively to international scholarship.

Yet, we must approach this moment with critical awareness. AI systems are not neutral. They reflect the biases of the data on which they are trained; data that often underrepresents African realities. AI risks reinforcing the inequalities it promises to address if it is not carefully governed. Environmental concerns also loom large: AI infrastructure’s energy and water demands pose challenges for regions grappling with resource scarcity and climate vulnerability.

This raises a vital question: How do African research leaders harness AI’s transformative potential while ensuring its ethical, inclusive and sustainable application? A deep understanding of these technologies is essential for effective and responsible integration. Africa must build capacity not only to adopt AI but also to shape it, developing context-aware tools, influencing global standards and leading in areas of local relevance.

Several proactive steps are required. First, we must invest in AI literacy among academics, students and administrators. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI is key to ensuring its appropriate use. Second, we must build and strengthen infrastructure that supports ethical and locally relevant AI applications. Third, transparency is essential; researchers should disclose how AI is used and establish clear citation and accountability protocols. Fourth, we must champion open and representative datasets that reflect African languages, problems and contexts. Finally, we must foster global collaboration, but always from a position of African agency.

AI is not merely a tool for African research, it is a bridge to a more connected, efficient and globally-engaged scientific future.

As an illustration, I recently asked two leading generative AI platforms, “Is AI a necessity or a luxury in research management?” ChatGPT emphasized its role in streamlining complex tasks and enhancing research quality, particularly in resource-constrained settings. Gemini highlighted its ability to enable efficient and impactful research management in data-rich environments. Both responses resonate in Africa, where data gaps and infrastructure limitations coexist with untapped intellectual capital and creativity.

In conclusion, AI is not merely a tool for African research, it is a bridge to a more connected, efficient and globally-engaged scientific future. Our task is to ensure that this bridge leads not to dependency, but to empowerment. With thoughtful governance, inclusive infrastructure and a commitment to ethical application, AI can help usher in an era where African research thrives, not on the periphery, but at the center of global discovery.

The consensus is clear: AI is a necessity, not a luxury, in research management. For Africa, embracing AI is essential to navigating complexity, expanding impact  and advancing knowledge. While challenges remain, the potential is too great to ignore. Our collective responsibility is to guide this transformation thoughtfully, ensuring that human intellect and artificial intelligence work together to meet the needs of our time, on the continent and beyond.