A CSPS Webinar on "Invisible labour: Africa’s role in training the global AI economy"

As AI transforms global industries, its growth depends on invisible labour and extractive infrastructures, many anchored in Africa. This webinar, Invisible Labour: Africa’s Role in Training the Global AI Economy, exposes how African workers and resources power AI, from cobalt and coltan mines in the DRC to data annotation hubs in Kenya. It also highlights the continent’s role as a dumping ground for toxic e-waste, with sites like Agbogbloshie absorbing the detritus of digital consumption. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, lived realities, and critical policy perspectives, the session asks: What does ethical AI mean when built on exploitation? And how can African agency reshape digital futures?

Watch the webinar recording here