An African Perspective on Culturally Competent Social Robotics: Why Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Matters in Human-Robot Interaction [Opinion]

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are playing a central role in driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Africa, powering the digital transformation of African economies through technological innovation. However, successful innovation requires trust, acceptance, and widespread adoption. In turn, these depend on sociocultural factors. This is particularly true in the case of social robotics, where cultural competence is pivotal for adoption. We provide examples of culture-specific knowledge derived from diverse social and cultural norms in African countries and explain how this impacts social robots if their behavior is to be acceptable. We conclude by unwrapping the concepts of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we explain how culturally competent social robotics can impact each of these three issues.