In a breaking decision that confirms the continent’s collective resolve and strategic decision to progress the cause of technology, a number African countries have launched a joint initiative to create regional Artificial Intelligence (AI) innovation centres.
The declaration is part of a set of historical agreements which took place on the sidelines of this year’s International Conference on the Development & Regulation of AI in Africa high level policy dialogue held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, signaling the continent’s intent to become an integral part of the established global AI infrastructure.
The dialogue was co-hosted by the African Union Commission, the Government of Ethiopia and the Institute for Security Studies and brought together African heads of state, ministers, policy makers, researchers and techpreneurs from more than 40 African countries. The goal is to build inclusive, ethical and sustainable AI ecosystems that will ensure African countries can access, shape and influence the opportunities AI offers.
Addressing the gathering, H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia emphasized “AI was a distant dream but now it’s the enabler of all change”. He was upbeat the AI could fast-track the realisation of the AU Agenda 2063.
The Prime Minister emphasized the strategic decision to be active participants in the AI revolution and to use it in facing challenges which are specific to the African experience.
A crucial piece of this collaboration is the acknowledgment of the critical role of investment in digital infrastructure, such as renewable-powered data centers and regional compute hubs.
This will be important to local AI model training and to ensure data sovereignty. The program also aims to support the development of local expertise, through education and training programs, to establish a skilled AI workforce.
The focus of AI innovation and investment in a handful of countries was also tackled. Although the likes of Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Egypt have witnessed significant AI startup activity, the push hopes to expand the ecosystem to ensure the benefits of AI can be felt across the continent and bridge the digital divide.
These regional AI innovation hubs aim to spur progress across a range of areas, from agriculture, to health, to education to climate resilience. African tinkerers and inventors are working with homegrown solutions for AI, and not just for prestige — AI is about solving real-world challenges for the people they live with.
This impetus by the African states is a significant step toward harnessing AI’s transformative potential for environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial development across the continent, and heralds an era of technological innovation led by Africa’s own creativity and cooperation.
