- Africa must embrace and adopt AI as a key, if not the most important, form of technology to make sure we are truly part of the 4th industrial revolution.
- At the moment, we are not doing a very good job in AI across the continent.
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Lately, when I wake up and look at Africa around me, I recognise the opportunity this new Africa represents in the age of AI and smart technology.
The possibilities that abound with the use of data and solutions that can change lives in Health, Education, deep-tech research, Fintech, Agritech, and climate change.
Africa must embrace and adopt AI as a key, if not the most important, form of technology to make sure we are truly part of the 4th industrial revolution.
At the moment, we are not doing a very good job in AI across the continent.
ChatGPT has put the world on an AI frenzy, and everyone wants to be part of it, but still, we suffer from a lack of vision and understanding of the immense value the AI industry has to offer us as Africans.
We want to become producers and owners of technology infrastructure and not just consumers excited about sharing the answers ChatGPT gave us on social media groups.
We need to invest in AI and Data Science talent in Africa as a key to building qualitative human capital that can have a massive impact on our FDI.
A couple of things are very important.
1. Investing in AI research across the continent.
2. Training more AI engineers and creating an enabling environment for them to become creative.
3. Investing in startups in AI in Africa.
4. Investing in Infrastructure required to support AI.
I believe a data-driven ecosystem with innovation at the center of it and education as a core value to drive our participation is critical if we are going to improve the state of AI in Africa.
We must educate everyone on the value chain to become better experienced and knowledgeable about the value as well as the urgent need for an increased focus on AI in the continent.
Currently, a number of difficult regulation is frustrating the growth of the AI ecosystem and the lack of African business leaders who are knowledgeable enough and advocating for AI in the continent.
I believe the opportunity lies in the startup space to become a key driver for the development of the AI ecosystem in Africa.
As a continent abundant with amazing human talent and resources, if applied accurately, AI can help tackle a number of social and economic problems across the continent from healthcare to climate change.
Some examples include using AI in health to provide precision in diagnosis and predictive intelligence for patients et.
There are regions that have started driving the conversation and change for example Kenya, Nigeria, SA, Rwanda, Ghana, Egypt, and Senegal.
Connecting the important actors and experts within the field of AI is also of immense importance.
And companies driving climate adaptation change in Agriculture using Deep-learning to process future change is a huge area of investment that will help with food security and nutrition.
I believe that Africa is in a fantastic position to drive and embrace AI and the free flow of data across various sectors as well as the big companies coming to Africa that must support the growth of the startups in AI and also help governments understand the value of an investment in AI.
In conclusion, we are slowly seeing the funding of African AI companies for example Zindi, Instadeep, AICE.
We need more AI companies in Africa to get funded for the space to grow rapidly.
We can also teach the rest of the world something new and a better way to create an ethical AI ecosystem.
AI needs to become an important part of the African agenda for sustainable growth, and all the key players need to come to the table and actively participate so we don’t get left out of another industrial revolution.