'data Is The New Oil - African Data Must Stay In Africa'

Advances in artificial intelligence could potentially be a development game changer for Africa, even though the continent largely remains at the wrong end of the global technology gap.

According to Lacina Kon, director general of Smart Africa, AI will enable the continent to accelerate information delivery, allowing even people who are functionally illiterate to interact with and better access public services. Undoubtedly, he says, this will help African countries to pursue the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which countries are expected to achieve by 2030. "When deployed with inclusion, AI will enable people who do not speak French, English, Portuguese, Arabic or Spanish to participate in development," Kon says.

Experts believe that by making more relevant information available, farmers, for example, can plan better, while health outcomes can also be improved. But it is not a foregone conclusion. A recent white paper produced by the African Union Development Agency - New Partnership for Africa's Development AUDA-NEPAD, the African Union's technical implementation arm, argues that while AI can significantly enhance productivity in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and manufacturing, achieving these gains demands robust digital infrastructure, sound policies, and strategic investments in human capital.

Prepared in conjunction with Microsoft Research and Philanthropies, the University of Pretoria, Lelapa AI, and Oxford University, the paper, AI and the Future of Work in Africa , projected that in South Africa productivity improvements from generative AI could contribute approximately 0.5 to GDP growth through automation. It also highlighted the dual nature of AI's impact on labour markets - offering opportunities for innovation and new jobs while posing challenges like job displacement in routine sectors, thus calling for concerted efforts in re-skilling and up-skilling the workforce.

Kon notes that artificial intelligence rests on digital infrastructure, connectivity in urban and rural areas and data centres, all areas in which the continent has challenges. "In terms of connectivity, only 46 of the population uses the internet," he points out, clarifying, however, that "this does not mean that only 46 of the population is covered. The coverage rate is one thing and the usage rate is another!" According to him, while network coverage reaches roughly 85, actual usage lags at about 50, which he attributes to the affordability of internet access, which remains out of reach for many in Africa.