[kictanet] Cheap AI coding labour?

Tue Nov 13 09:08:11 EAT 2018

Just (very briefly) looked at the Samasource profile. They seem to be an
educational non profit.

Skills developed are applied to generate income (intelligence) for their
clients + relevant experience (exposure) for their willing
subjects/students.

For 20 years now, have observed (researched) career progression of a good
number of technologists in East Africa. Can say without reservation, the
very few who become solid entrepreneurs (if not investors) over time (5 to
7 years) prefer (are convinced by their value system) to work with locals,
for our market (not the same as working in multi nationals). It is simply a
matter of choice.

On Tue, Nov 13, 2018 at 8:00 AM Clifford Derrick via kictanet <
kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:

> Hi Barrack and Listers,
>
>
>
> I fully agree with this opinion, but before we throw rocks, let’s remember
> charity starts at home.
>
>
>
> It is quite vital to raise local standards and awareness on dev and
> engineering skills plus the remuneration package that comes with being very
> skilled in niche sectors. The global marketplace would be a good starting
> point but there are certain ‘barriers of entry’ so to speak. If local
> companies pay software developers 15k a month to tirelessly slog over code,
> why would a Silicon Valley start-up come in and pay the chap over 20 times
> that? Yes, that would be the ethical thing to do but most companies do not
> run on ethics. They run on P&L. There’s a reason low tier supply chain
> manufacturing jobs are shifting to Vietnam, Ethiopia and Bangladesh and
> away from the traditional hubs…
>
>
>
> Regards
>
> Clifford
>
>
>
> *From:* kictanet <kictanet-bounces+clifford.derrick=
> liquidtelecom.com at lists.kictanet.or.ke> *On Behalf Of *Barrack Otieno via
> kictanet
> *Sent:* 12 November 2018 14:58
> *To:* Clifford Derrick <clifford.derrick at liquidtelecom.com>
> *Cc:* Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack at gmail.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [kictanet] Cheap AI coding labour?
>
>
>
> Hi Wainaina and listers,
>
> Unfortunately we don't have a culture of rewarding local innovations
> and pumping billions into local Research and Development. The global
> north has noticed the talent that abounds locally and is not
> hesitating in tapping into it. I wish we could invest more into our
> Vocational Institutions and provide funding that would help our
> innovators in the Jua Kali space to scale up. That said i would be
> curious to hear what ndugu Ali who has been involved in the start up
> phase or Harry Hare have to say since i consider them authorities in
> the space.
>
> Regards
>
> On 11/12/18, Bernard Kioko via kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke>
> wrote:
> > Moral rights are not transferrable.
> >
> > On Mon, Nov 12, 2018 at 2:35 PM Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet <
> > kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >
> >> Heehe $12,000 for the "best" source code (including moral rights - so
> you
> >> will never get credited if its a big hit) is a complete joke imo.
> >>
> >> I would urge local developers to be cautious about these competitions
> and
> >> approach them strategically.
> >>
> >> For example, you can use these kind of competitions as idea triggers to
> >> (lawfully) get clues and inspiration on what problems need solving
> >> (*without*
> >> participating or signing up, as that potentially binds you to their
> T&Cs)
> >> -
> >> then form teams/coalitions to solve these problems independently for a
> >> much
> >> bigger potential payoff.
> >>
> >> On policy these things are happening because there are glaring loopholes
> >> in our intellectual property laws that allow *IP mining* to take place
> >> without any restriction or consequences. Its literally a free for all.
> >>
> >> Kenya needs an "Intellectual Property Resources Act", which would
> >> invalidate exploitative contracts / terms and conditions is long
> overdue.
> >> This is the kind of 21st Century legislation that can stimulate
> >> innovation
> >> and the creation of *high quality jobs* in Kenya.
> >>
> >> 21st Century resources include:
> >> 1. Attention or engagement (systems designed to distract people from
> >> contributing to economic activity)
> >> 2. Data (for mining/analytics or ML)
> >> 3. Source code, novel circuits, algorithms, chemical formulations,
> >> mixtures, blue prints (including business plans, pricing models etc).
> >> 4. Valuable ideas (e.g. "please call me") that cannot be protected via
> >> any
> >> combination of the old industrial era laws e.g. patents, copyright, UM &
> >> DM.
> >> 5. other?
> >>
> >> Thanks for the heads up and Good day!
> >> Patrick.
> >>
> >> On Monday, November 12, 2018, 2:01:43 PM GMT+3, Wainaina Mungai via
> >> kictanet <kictanet at lists.kictanet.or.ke> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Some developers are raising concerns privately that great initiatives
> >> such
> >> as Zindi are "cheaply buying AI code" from Africa
> >> https://zindi.africa/faq/data_scientists
> >>
> >> According to them, "Zindi runs high-value expertise programming
> >> competitions/ hackathons in Kenya and Nigeria... and demands code in
> >> exchange for low pay prizes. It is unfairly low-cost labour for them."
> >>
> >> See attached. Are their concerns valid?
> >>
> >>
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> >>
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> >>
> >> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> >> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> >> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> >> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and
> >> development.
> >>
> >> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> >> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and
> >> bandwidth,
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> do
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> >
> >
> > --
> > <
> https://bernardkioko.com?promo=email_sig&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email_sig&utm_campaign=gmail_api&utm_content=thumb
> >
> > Bernard Kioko
> > bernardkioko.com
> > <
> https://bernardkioko.com?promo=email_sig&utm_source=product&utm_medium=email_sig&utm_campaign=gmail_api&utm_content=thumb
> >
> >
>
>
> --
> Barrack O. Otieno
> +254721325277
> +254733206359
> Skype: barrack.otieno
> PGP ID: 0x2611D86A
>
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
> _______________________________________________
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>
> The Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) is a multi-stakeholder platform
> for people and institutions interested and involved in ICT policy and
> regulation. The network aims to act as a catalyst for reform in the ICT
> sector in support of the national aim of ICT enabled growth and development.
>
> KICTANetiquette : Adhere to the same standards of acceptable behaviors
> online that you follow in real life: respect people's times and bandwidth,
> share knowledge, don't flame or abuse or personalize, respect privacy, do
> not spam, do not market your wares or qualifications.
>

-- 
SMM

*"Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one
who takes a city." Prov 16:32*
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