Africa's Ai Moment: Innovate, Collaborate Or Fall Behind

Artificial Intelligence AI has the potential to be Africa's greatest accelerator of development. As global leaders convene in Kigali for the inaugural Global AI Summit on Africa, the continent faces a pivotal choice: embrace AI to drive economic transformation and governance reform, or risk falling further behind in the global digital economy.

AI offers African nations a new development opportunity which does not depend on external aid, imported technologies or legacy infrastructure. Properly deployed, AI can help governments deliver services more efficiently, strengthen economies and create industries.

A new report by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change - "Governing in the Age of AI: Unlocking a New Era of Transformation in Africa," - highlights AI as a force multiplier for governance, growth and public-sector transformation with immense potential. AI-powered diagnostics could revolutionise healthcare access in rural areas, predictive analytics could optimise food supply chains, and AI-driven automation could streamline public services.

Realising this potential requires targeted investment and clear AI governance frameworks, Otherwise Africa risks being digitally dependent on foreign AI models that do not reflect its realities, languages, or priorities.

AI transformation hinges on strong foundational systems: high performance computing HPC, accessible and interoperable data, and robust digital public infrastructure DPI comprised of digital identity systems, payments platforms, and data exchange systems.