The transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in Africa is immense, with emerging innovations expected to boost the continent’s economic growth by an estimated $2.9 trillion by 2030, according to GSMA’s AI4D Africa report. AI is not only poised to accelerate economic development, but also to reshape Africa’s social and cultural landscape by empowering a rapidly growing and dynamic youth eager to adapt to new forms of digital work and entrepreneurship.
By addressing some of the continent’s most complex challenges, AI is set to play a crucial role in reducing existing inequalities and driving inclusive growth.
Africa’s propensity for innovation, ingenuity and creativity is evergreen and primed to thrive; it is the landscape in which it exists that must evolve to realise Africa’s potential for technological prowess.
In 2024 Africa represents a mere 2.5% of the global AI market, with the continent itself dominated by foreign AI products and solutions that are incompatible with local needs. According to Oxford Insights’ 2023 Global AI Readiness Index, which examines AI readiness in nine global regions, sub-Saharan Africa ranked last. As it stands, less than 10 African countries have established national AI strategies; notable proactive countries who have published comprehensive national AI strategies include Egypt, Rwanda and Mauritius, while Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa have established tech and innovation hubs committed to developing AI ecosystems.
Remedying this disproportion in technological growth is in the best interest of the continent as a whole: establishing an AI-first position to innovation creates untold opportunities for local skills development, foreign investment, increased funding and the creation of new industries. As such, African countries are accelerating their efforts towards AI knowledge creation, capacity building, and the development of innovation processes that are focused on their own unique challenges, rather than simply replicating strategies from the Global North. For AI innovators across the continent this shift in focus is not just an opportunity, it is an imperative.
In order to unlock the untapped potential of AI in Africa, there are a myriad of hurdles to overcome. This includes the notable skills gap in digital literacy and the application of artificial intelligence, insufficient technological infrastructure and inadequately integrated regulations and policies to govern the ethical use of AI.
According to Steven De Backer, founder and CEO of legal intelligence firm Afriwise, one of the greatest challenges faced is the continent’s largely unstructured data ecosystem and lack of access to extensive and representative data. “Africa is rich in data but the data has not been aggregated: more than 90% of data being generated daily is unstructured and the volume is set to increase by up to 65% annually. AI intervention offers the only viable solution to making sense of this data in real-time. As data is the core of economic transformation, establishing secure, rich and trusted African data sets is of utmost importance.”
Gérald Croonenberghs, the MD of Silikin Village, elaborates that historical data biases must be remedied by Afrocentric AI. “Homegrown AI is very important for the continent as major biases exist from Western data and largely patriarchal perspectives. It is critical to create access to this localised data to create African AI solutions that are representative and contextually accurate.”
Addressing limitations in access to local language data is a central part of this process. According to AI in Africa: The state and needs of the ecosystem, a 2024 report from The African Observatory on Responsible Artificial Intelligence, only 0.02% of online content is in African languages compared to 53% in English. This disparity hinders the ability to either develop new language models or refine existing ones to effectively harness the diverse range of accents, dialects and ways of speaking across different African communities.
“This imbalance threatens to widen the digital divide, and will continue to exclude Africa from the advantages of AI-driven technology. Datasets must reflect the intricacies of African markets rather than imitate intelligence from the Global North,” says De Backer.
Further to this, information collection and management systems are either underdeveloped or fragmented for many countries across the continent. Limited access to data centres and the comprehensive infrastructure required to develop AI applications hampers innovation, and diminishes the potential to foster skills.
Bridging these gaps and creating a sustainable platform for AI development cannot be achieved in isolation: a multi-stakeholder approach through partnerships and funding is paramount for long-term impact. “Legal and regulatory intelligence is the context in which Afriwise’s technology exists, but distributing this knowledge base using proprietary natural language processing, machine learning and artificial Intelligence is necessary to create an Afrocentric, future-ready tech ecosystem powered by AI and local talent. It is for this reason that we have partnered with TEXAF – the only company listed on the stock exchange that conducts all of its activities in the DRC – to build a community that empowers local developers and transfers the critical skills needed to harness artificial intelligence. Powered by TEXAF’s strategic backing, we have committed to create a dynamic ecosystem where Congolese developers can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the global digital economy,” attests De Backer.
The heart of this initiative is Silikin Village, an entrepreneurial hub established by TEXAF in the DRC, which is dedicated to the promotion of technology-first innovation in startups, small and medium-sized enterprises and large corporations. The DRC is bourgeoning with potential as an emerging market. With a population of 90-million – 60 percent of which is under 25 years old – the DRC stands to benefit hugely from grassroots-level technological interventions that fosters skills among a young Congolese workforce. Silikin Village not only houses coworking spaces, training facilities, and data centres, but spearheads ongoing incubation and acceleration initiatives to foster diversity and growth within the DRC’s AI entrepreneurism.
Gérald Croonenberghs, says this partnership is well-positioned to create a meaningful, long-lasting impact. “TEXAF is deeply committed to developing the digital economy of the DRC. Leveraging partnerships is critical to the success of this endeavour. Our partnership with Afriwise is meaningful as it presents the opportunity to cross-breed local talent with global experience, with the ultimate goal of cultivating a new generation of tech talent in Congo. We will continue to create opportunities for foreign projects and partnerships that aim to unlock the potential of Congo’s vast human capital, making it a hub of tech innovation in Africa.”
Fostering the growth of grassroots startups by Africans and empowering local talent is at the core of this initiative. De Backer, who grew up in Kinshasa, affirms the story of AI in Africa will not just be about technology—it will be about empowerment. “As a legal intelligence company the focus has always been to not only expand our footprint across Africa, but to actively invest in the future of local developers and the legal environment. It’s about ensuring that the next wave of African developers, lawyers, and entrepreneurs have the skills and tools to build a future where AI transforms legal and economic systems for the better.”
The world is rapidly moving towards an AI-powered future, and Africa must be part of this story. By investing in the development of AI solutions that are not only technically excellent but culturally considerate and locally relevant, African AI innovators are making a more inclusive digital future a reality.
Afriwise is a legal intelligence platform, working to transform and democratise access to legal and regulatory information across Africa and beyond. Afriwise helps clients advance their business in Africa and gain a competitive advantage by providing them with business, legal and regulatory intelligence based on technology and human expertise.
TEXAF, listed on Euronext Brussels, has operated exclusively in the DRC since 1925. As a cornerstone in the DRC’s formal economy, TEXAF focuses on real estate, quarrying, and digital innovation, supporting sustainable development across these sectors. Guided by transparency and resilience, TEXAF is committed to building a prosperous future for the DRC.
Silikin Village, an initiative supported by TEXAF, is an innovative hub dedicated to empowering Congolese youth and entrepreneurs. Located on a 32,000 m² site in Kinshasa, Silikin Village features an advanced 6,000 m² coworking space, a nonprofit campus for training and incubation, and a vibrant business center for hosting events and conferences. With a tier 3 open-access data center and partnerships with key stakeholders, Silikin Village fosters a thriving ecosystem for digital transformation. Through education, acceleration programs, and strategic collaborations, Silikin Village nurtures talent and innovation, aiming to become a leading driver of economic development and digital integration in the DRC. It also seeks to partner with international groups to establish new infrastructures and services in the country.
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