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Artificial Intelligence in Africa

5 min read

From: aidotengineer

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, extending its influence beyond tech circles to wider conversations [00:00:31]. For Africans, this transformation specifically applies to the continent [00:00:43].

Evolution of AI

AI is not a new concept [00:00:51]:

  • Neural Networks: Concepts fundamental to AI, like neural networks, emerged around 1950 [00:00:54].
  • Machine Learning: This concept appeared in the 1980s [00:01:00].
  • Deep Learning: More recent discussions have focused on deep learning [00:01:05].
  • Agentic AI: The conversation has shifted from generative AI to agentic AI, which focuses on the decisions AI can make [00:01:12].

Africa’s Position in the AI Landscape

While Africa is often perceived as nascent in the AI phenomenon [00:07:13], its people are deeply immersed in technology [00:07:34]. Kenya, for instance, ranks as the third-highest daily user of ChatGPT globally [00:07:23]. Despite this, Africa is often underrepresented in global discussions about new AI startups and patents, frequently positioned below other continents [00:07:51], [00:08:04].

This perceived lack of resources presents a unique opportunity for innovation, as “when you don’t have much, that’s where you actually produce some of the best innovations” [00:08:16]. African countries have a history of leveraging technology to overcome challenges [00:08:38]. The African fintech space, for example, has developed unique products like M-Pesa, enabling money transfers via cell phone numbers, a game-changer for moving money across regions [00:08:45], [00:08:50], [00:08:57].

Projected fintech revenue growth in Africa between 2021 and 2030 indicates the continent’s potential to become a global player in fintech [00:09:08], [00:09:14], [00:09:20]. Many companies in South Africa are already specializing in the AI space [00:10:02].

AI Market Growth and Impact in Africa

The international market size for AI in Africa is projected to experience a 17-fold jump between 2020 and 2030, with billions of dollars in investment [00:10:32], [00:10:46], [00:10:50], [00:10:55]. The key question is whether this growth truly impacts Africa and its people, not just the technology or markets [00:11:06], [00:11:14].

Tackling African Challenges with AI Thinking

Africa often faces “red tape measures” like politics, tax laws, and finances that prevent systemic change, leading to over-engineered solutions rather than addressing the core problem [00:11:59], [00:12:04], [00:12:10]. For instance, the long queues at Home Affairs offices in South Africa are commonly approached with solutions like ticket systems or hiring more staff [00:12:23], [00:12:26], [00:12:29]. However, a different approach, leveraging AI’s analytical capabilities, could consider automatically initiating ID or passport applications once a person reaches the qualifying age, eliminating the need for individuals to start the process [00:13:41], [00:14:11], [00:14:15], [00:14:32]. This type of innovative thinking is not limited to Africa but could solve global problems related to important documents [00:14:40], [00:14:44].

Examples of this innovative mindset are already present:

These are groundbreaking innovations, not just continentally but globally [00:17:15], [00:17:18].

Mindset and Potential for Africa

Africa possesses immense potential, creativity, opportunities, and technological usage [00:17:30], [00:17:32], [00:17:36]. A significant hindrance to its “uprising” (the uprising that AI provides) is sometimes how Africans perceive themselves [00:17:50], [00:18:00]. There’s a tendency to feel “below par” or needing to do “over and above” to match other regions [00:18:11]. This mindset can shape how others view the continent [00:18:23], [00:18:26].

Despite this, global players are investing in Africa’s space and using its resources to activate major processes, such as African innovators contributing to the Chinese car revolution [00:18:33], [00:18:37], [00:18:42], [00:18:47]. Africa holds about 30% of the world’s earth minerals [00:19:08], [00:19:11]. Currently, these minerals are often exported, repackaged into finished products elsewhere, and then bought back into the continent [00:19:37], [00:19:47], [00:19:50], [00:19:59]. This raises the question of whether Africa is recognizing its true potential and the power of unity [00:20:08], [00:20:11], [00:20:16].

Other countries, like China, have transformed their positions by prioritizing internal development before serving the international market, becoming a “global factory” [00:20:24], [00:20:29], [00:20:35], [00:21:17]. Africa’s unique position, with fewer resources, drives creativity and allows for rapid development of solutions, many of which are global in scope [00:21:01], [00:21:04], [00:21:08], [00:21:10].

The Future of AI in Africa

AI adoption in Africa is not new, with significant investment in companies and learning spaces, including universities and even primary/high schools, where AI opportunities are being discussed [00:23:08], [00:23:11], [00:23:16], [00:23:20], [00:23:22]. The South African AI market alone is projected to see close to a 72 million Rand difference in the next 10 years [00:23:31], [00:23:37], [00:23:41].

Africa needs to reimagine how it is perceived and recognize its immense potential [00:24:01], [00:24:05], [00:24:14], [00:24:18]. This means moving beyond theoretical discussions about AI and actively engaging with the available tools and resources [00:24:24], [00:24:27], [00:24:30], [00:24:33]. The question remains: What does AI mean for Africans, and how can it unlock the continent’s existing potential, positioning it as an active player on the global stage rather than just a participant [00:24:46], [00:24:50], [00:25:07], [00:25:09], [00:25:34]?

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