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World Readiness

Thokozani Makuyana (Strategic Innovation Management MSc 2024) won both the Rothwell Prize for Best Dissertation and Best in Cohort at her graduation prizegiving. With a background in strategic consulting in medical and educational nonprofits, Thokozani came to Sussex with a new research interest: the intersection between racial justice and AI.

What drew you to SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit at the Business School?

I've always been really passionate about technological innovation and all things new, so much so that I designed a consumer product for babies a few years ago and it started to go really well. I managed to get funding for a prototype from an innovation agency, and to get patented in the US, UK and South Africa. But unfortunately, I was never able to commercialise it. And so basically, I'm a failed inventor and I wanted to figure out why I failed. I came to Sussex to learn how to be a better innovator. 

During Covid I spent a lot of time reading articles and watching news about global unrest, political insecurity and inequality. What attracted me to SPRU is that the department is very interested in solving those problems, whether it's climate change or how to make technological innovation work for people. I was also interested in learning how to think in a systems thinking way, which is the SPRU way of thinking, and how to combine policy and innovation. 

AI is the new systems technology, meaning it's going to affect every single aspect of our lives, just as electricity did, or the internal combustion engine did.” Thokozani Makuyana

What advice do you have for future students arriving in the UK for their studies?

I'm originally from Zimbabwe. I moved to South Africa as a child and that was an overwhelming experience. I experienced xenophobia and a lot of Afrophobia. But I eventually settled in. I thought having been through that, especially as a child, would make coming to the UK much easier, but it's always difficult to uproot your life.

It was very lonely, especially in the first few weeks. What I would say to new students is to be open to everyone – you never know where your support system will come from. Pour into other people, as well. If you hear that a student is struggling, reach out to them. That's the way you build community, and that's where you build family away from family. 

What inspired your dissertation?

I’d read articles about how AI is the new systems technology, meaning it's going to affect every single aspect of our lives, just as electricity did, or the internal combustion engine did. And throughout my life I've been really passionate about racial justice. And the more I looked into AI and how machines learn the more I became aware that there is coded bias in algorithms, and sometimes the way algorithms learn can enforce and amplify societal inequalities.

For example, there's research that shows how some algorithms are unable to identify a black face in comparison to a white face. Some algorithms can't even identify that a black face is a human face. And some algorithms are more likely to suggest more aggressive punishment for certain offenders based on race. So it has a lot of societal impact. These algorithms are becoming actors in decision making and it's dehumanising.

To ensure that algorithms are transparent, non-discriminatory and respect human rights, some researchers are calling for ‘algorithmic fairness’. I wanted to look at how government approaches to AI might affect conceptualisations of algorithmic fairness, so I analysed the in comparison to the UK’s .

I found that how a government tackles AI – whether they prioritise innovation, which is the ungoverned development of AI, or whether they prioritise regulation, which is the governed development of AI – creates differences in algorithmic fairness.

Ultimately, we need a grassroots movement to change the face of coding. We need more members of the global majority studying computer science, learning how to code and becoming experts in machine learning and data regulation. Because when you introduce a diversity of voice into the foundation, that will lead to better data management and more awareness of how algorithms need to be designed more inclusively.

We also need to make people aware that when you're dealing with certain service providers you're actually dealing with an autonomous agent, and that autonomous agent may be making the final decision. When we have a more concerned public who's able to understand how AI is affecting their lives, they'll feel more empowered to speak up about where they want AI used.

I want to ensure that new technologies, particularly AI, are designed with public good at the forefront.” Thokozani Makuyana

Which modules during your MSc did you find the most rewarding?

In particular, I really enjoyed Science, Technology and Innovations with and Industrial and Innovation Policy with , who was also my dissertation supervisor. Through them, I found myself learning to think about change as something cumulative instead of radical – and that thinking will really influence my career going forward.

What I also really enjoyed about Carolin's classes is that she encouraged debate. I always cherish an opportunity to learn, not just from the lecturer, but from the people I'm sitting next to, some of whom come from very different backgrounds and professions.

In terms of figuring out why my prototype failed, through the Design Thinking module, I learned that I would have to be a more empathetic innovator who spent time truly listening to potential consumers and attempting to solve the problem from their point of view. It's important to prototype quickly and often with as much customer feedback as possible.

What’s next for you? And what are the greatest challenges ahead?

I want to work at the intersection of technological innovation and policy. And because I'm really passionate about achieving racial justice, I want to ensure that the inequalities that exist in the physical world are not digitalized.

I also want to ensure that new technologies, particularly AI, are designed with public good at the forefront and ask, “how can it help address the world's toughest problems?” instead of, “how can it maximise profits?”

The biggest challenge that we see with all technological change, whether it's the advent of social media or now the proliferation of AI tools, is that people fall into two camps. You have the accelerationists, who are just, like, “let it run. Pandora's box is open”. Then you've got the other camp that I fall into, which is the directionalists. We are pro-innovation. We just want to see it mission-driven. Finding a compromise between the two groups is a big challenge.

Another big challenge is that a lot of governments are trying to regulate technologies that they themselves don't understand. So, we need to see governments that are full of people who actually have digital literacy and digital skills.

And that's really, really, really important, because once you do that, you're able to build digital infrastructure that is public and not private. You'll then be able to avoid situations where governments are now relying on billionaires to provide services and there's this blurring between private enterprise and public services.

And finally, what’s the best piece of advice you’ve received?

One of my favourite teachers from high school – she was my English teacher – always said, “Be curious”. Whether you're curious about new ideas or other people, be interested. And don't be scared of disagreement, because disagreement leads to debate and debate leads to learning.

Find out more about the Strategic Innovation Management MSc and SPRU – Science Policy Research Unit, based in the �鶹��ý������� Business School.

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