The AI Education Leapfrog In The Global South
forbes.com – 24 September 2024 – The concept of “disruptive innovation,” introduced by Clayton Christensen in The Innovator’s Dilemma, explains how newcomers using cutting-edge technology can displace entrenched corporations. Disruption in higher education can be rare, due to high barriers to entry and the rooted influence of prestigious institutions. However, in the Global South, the dynamics of disruption are different, and artificial intelligence (AI) could be the key to disrupting and even leapfrogging traditional educational systems.
The Global South, which includes Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East, houses 7.2 billion people, about 85% of the world’s population. Unlike the U.S. and Europe, over 55% of the Global South’s population is under the age of 25. The increasing share of population from Africa is especially notable, as the continent is expected to contribute 62% of global population growth between now and 2050, with countries like Nigeria and Tanzania expecting 50-90% growth by 2050. This demographic surge has created an unprecedented demand for education and have a unique opportunity to introduce disruptive models, with AI at the forefront.