…To reflect culture and linguistics
The Chief Information Officer (CIO) at Prudential Bank, Leopold Armah, has called on technology engineers in Africa and across the developing world to begin domesticating Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology by gradually developing local use cases that consider linguistic diversity and local practices.
He observed that AI has clearly moved from being experimental to essential, permeating every area of life, including threat intelligence and cybersecurity. As such, localising its application will enhance appreciation of its full potential.
Speaking on the theme “AI, Automation and the Future of Threat Intelligence” at the recently held CISO Summit 2025 in Accra, Mr Armah emphasised the need to simplify, invest in, and urgently begin building capacity at both the individual and corporate levels to make AI relevant to local environments.
“Evidently, AI has moved from experimental to essential. AI and automation are helping us develop the ability to correlate tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), enabling quicker identification of threat actors and the simulation of attack scenarios. It is critical, therefore, for developing countries to initiate steps toward domesticating this tool. Doing so will help us better understand and project its potential,” he said.
Mr Armah, highlighted key benefits of AI and automation in threat intelligence, including speed where AI can respond to threats much faster than manual interventions, reducing the window of opportunity for attackers; efficiency where automated systems can handle repetitive tasks such as patch management, log analysis and vulnerability scanning without fatigue; and consistency where responses follow a standardised process, thereby reducing human error.
However, he issued a word of caution: “While speed, efficiency and consistency are desirable, it is important to understand that AI and automation are not always perfect and can be prone to errors, especially when the data is not trained according to the expected outputs.
As we dive headfirst into this uncharted territory, we must keep our eyes wide open. It is not just about the potential benefits and drawbacks, but also about how AI will continue to shape and reshape the workplace in ways we might not yet imagine.”
Mr Armah advised that all stakeholders should “look beyond the excitement—sometimes the anxieties and instead focus on becoming more conversant with the governing rules, ethical concerns, and the legal frameworks surrounding data and AI. And where these are lacking or non-existent, we must take the initiative to develop them.”
He further stressed the importance of always balancing safety and morality against speed and innovation, noting that while machines can do a great deal, “what they should do is the real question we must continue to address.”
Dispelling fears that AI and automation pose a significant threat to job security, Mr Armah referenced futurist Ray Kurzweil as a reassurance that human beings will remain superior to machines. He believes AI will ultimately serve as a “thought partner,” not a replacement.
“Ray Kurzweil, a notable futurist, says: ‘Our technology, our machines, are part of our humanity. We create them to extend ourselves, and that is what is unique about human beings.’ What readily comes to mind in response to job security concerns is the second part of Kurzweil’s statement.
I believe the world will only get better if we nurture and collaborate with machines and technology to solve problems,” he concluded.