Prudential Bank CIO calls for domestication of AI tools to reflect African culture

Leopold Armah - Prudential Bank

Leopold Armah is the Chief Information Officer at Prudential Bank. He urges technology engineers in Africa to develop local AI use cases. This should consider local languages and practices.

Armah believes AI has become essential in many areas of life. It plays a role in threat intelligence and cybersecurity. Domesticating AI will help people understand its potential better.

At the CISO Summit 2025 in Accra, he spoke on “AI, Automation and the Future of Threat Intelligence.” He emphasized the need to simplify and invest in AI development. Building capacity at individual and corporate levels is crucial for relevance.

Armah highlighted key benefits of AI in threat intelligence:

1. Speed: AI responds to threats faster than humans can.
2. Efficiency: Automated systems handle repetitive tasks without fatigue.
3. Consistency: Automation reduces human error by following set processes.

However, he cautioned that AI is not perfect. Errors can occur if data isn't properly trained. As we explore this new territory, we must remain vigilant about potential issues.

He advised focusing on understanding ethical rules and legal frameworks around AI. Where these do not exist, steps should be taken to create them.

Armah stressed the importance of balancing safety with innovation. Machines can do much, but their roles must be carefully defined by users.

He dismissed fears that AI threatens job security. He referenced futurist Ray Kurzweil's belief that humans will always surpass machines. Armah sees AI as a thought partner rather than a replacement.

“Ray Kurzweil says our technology extends our humanity,” he noted. He believes collaboration with machines will improve our world and solve problems effectively.