In South Africa, scientists at the University of Johannesburg used AI to forecast the peak periods of COVID-19, helping develop more effective policy measures¹. In Ghana, StarShea used AI to connect women farmers globally, increasing their earnings by 50% within six months². In Kenya, a groundbreaking startup, SohpieBot³, employs AI-driven chatbots to handle inquiries related to sexual and reproductive health. These are just some of the many AI use cases illustrating the potential of AI adoption on the continent to address critical social, health, and economic challenges.
 

Across the continent, public and private sector interest in AI has been growing rapidly, spurred in part by the capabilities of large language models like ChatGPT. Africa currently counts over 2,400 AI companies⁴, out of which 40% were founded in the last five years. For African nations to sustain and amplify this growth trajectory, governments and the private sector must prioritize AI in their investments. This is essential not only for driving economic expansion, but also for accelerating Africa’s progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially considering the recently adopted UN resolution on AI Governance that aims to promote safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems.

AI adoption in Africa does not come without costs or risk. Generative AI and large language models ingest vast amounts of data, generating concerns around privacy, data security and copyright infringement. Predictive AI models could upend traditional decision-making and raise ethical questions around biased and inaccurate data. Proponents of AI development in Africa face nascent AI regulations, a large data deficit, and high capital and operating expenses.

To create strong enabling environments across Africa that can realize AI’s immense potential, while minimizing risks, we believe that public and private sector decision-makers should focus on bolstering four pivotal enabling areas: 1) Governance, 2) Data and Digital Infrastructure, 3) Talent, and 4) Funding.

Today, many African nations lack national strategies, institutions, and regulatory frameworks that address AI technologies. This governance vacuum creates uncertainty – stifling investment and hindering innovation in the AI sphere. In this paper we explore these dimensions of AI governance, including challenges and opportunities in each. Subsequent papers in this series will focus on the other three enabling areas.

¹ “AI Is Here to Stay! How Artificial Intelligence Can Contribute to Economic Growth in Africa”. UNU. June 23, 2023
² “AI for Africa’s Socio-Economic Development”. African Union Development Agency AUDA-NEPAD
³ SOPHIE BOT Artificial Intelligence
⁴ AI Media Group: 2022 State of AI in Africa report