Rwanda’s AI Summit Highlights Africa’s Ambition to Engage in the Global Technology Competition
The Future of Artificial Intelligence in Africa
Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great potential for Africa, with forecasts suggesting it could generate $2.9 trillion by 2030. Additionally, the technology is expected to create half a million new jobs annually, helping lift over 11 million people out of poverty. This ambitious outlook was shared by Yves Iradukunda, the permanent secretary at Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation.
Highlights from Africa’s First Global AI Summit
The vision for AI development in Africa was a central theme at the continent’s inaugural global AI summit, which took place in Kigali on April 3-4. The event brought together researchers, scientists, and policymakers from more than 90 countries, all focused on shaping Africa’s digital future.
During the summit, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé emphasized the importance of a selective and strategic approach to AI that aligns with Africa’s capabilities. He identified three critical areas for AI development: healthcare, education, and agriculture. These sectors, he argued, will serve as the backbone for leveraging AI to benefit the continent effectively.
Bridging the Data Gap
However, achieving this vision requires significant improvements in infrastructure. A major issue is that many of Africa’s digital datasets are stored outside the continent, which limits access to crucial information. According to Ikram Abdirahman, a Kenyan lawyer who focuses on AI policy, this barrier presents serious challenges both in accessing data and in collecting indigenous data.
A report from the International Monetary Fund at the end of 2023 revealed that sub-Saharan Africa is the least-prepared region in the world for AI development. Currently, only five African nations—South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt, and Morocco—host AI-focused data centers.
Risks of Digital Colonization
Beyond infrastructure challenges, there are concerns that Africa could become a passive consumer of AI systems influenced by Western data and inherent biases. Ikram Abdirahman warns that using foreign training data for AI models might perpetuate harmful stereotypes, particularly in healthcare. Many AI applications tend to overlook diseases prevalent in Africa, such as malaria, Ebola, and the Marburg virus.
At a UN AI think tank meeting in November 2023, Seydina Ndiaye raised alarms about a potential "new colonization of Africa" through AI technologies. A report from the UN in 2024 further indicated that if AI systems are not localized appropriately, they could contribute to racial discrimination.
Linguistic and Cultural Considerations
The localization of AI in Africa is not just a technical requirement; it is also a cultural necessity. With over 2,000 languages spoken across the continent, the need for AI to resonate with local languages and cultures is evident. Francis Kombe, the CEO of EthiXPERT and chair of the African Research Integrity Network, has advocated for creating a specialized linguistic infrastructure that supports AI development.
He pointed out that the current large language models primarily cater to the Global North and called for efforts to train AI systems in local languages, starting with Kiswahili and expanding to other community languages over time.
This vision aligns with a declaration made in June 2024 by 130 African tech ministers, who urged the development of AI systems that reflect the continent’s rich linguistic, cultural, and historical diversity.
Steps Toward a Digital Future
As Africa stands on the cusp of a technological revolution with AI, the approach taken in the next few years will be crucial. Investing in infrastructure, ensuring access to local data, and fostering linguistic and cultural inclusivity will help shape a more equitable and empowered Africa in the digital age.
