Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in the UK and Africa (RAISE) Impact Accelerator project- RRI and EDI Practice.
21st November 2024
The Responsible Generative AI for SMEs in the UK and Africa project aims to identify and address the challenges, issues, and concerns SMEs encounter when integrating generative AI (GenAI) into their business processes. The core objective of the project is to develop actionable, co-created guidance in collaboration with SMEs within the GenAI ecosystem.
Embedding RRI through Co-Creation
A cornerstone of embedding Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) within the RAISE project is the adoption of a co-creation process. This approach is underpinned by three human-centric design workshops, which form a key element of the project methodology. These workshops enable SMEs to co-develop solutions to the ethical, legal, technical, and social challenges arising from the adoption of generative AI. The co-creation process is integral to the RAISE guidelines and was pivotal to the insights gained during the first virtual workshop.
Focus on Africa and Women-Owned Businesses
To promote Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI), the RAISE project has incorporated these principles into the design of its case studies. The project aims to investigate eight GenAI ecosystems—five in the UK and three in Africa. The inclusion of African SMEs/startups reflects the project’s commitment to fostering inclusivity in developing nations and ensuring African stakeholders have a voice in shaping GenAI regulation and policies. Moreover, the sampling strategy places particular emphasis on women-owned businesses, aligning with the goal of advancing gender equality.
Challenges
Despite efforts to prioritise women-owned startups as part of the RAISE case studies, onboarding such businesses has proven challenging, suggesting that the GenAI business ecosystem may be male-dominated. Some of these challenges stemmed from not having the required number of staff (minimum of 3) to qualify as a RAISE case and not having a clear plan/structure on the GenAI implementation as a minimum requirement (at least have a clear business plan on the integration/Implementation of GenAI to be part of the case studies). While this presents an obstacle, it also highlights a critical area for future research and offers an opportunity to explore the unique experiences of female entrepreneurs in the GenAI sector.
Solutions and Future Work
To address these challenges, the RAISE project has designed its case studies to involve at least three individuals from each SME, ensuring female participation in every case to promote gender inclusion. Upcoming site visits to Africa will provide an opportunity to better understand the local challenges faced by SMEs in the region. These visits will also serve to identify more women-led startups, incubation hubs, and entrepreneurial networks, further supporting the project’s EDI goals.