AI is making inroads into Africa, where it holds significant potential to address challenges in low-resource settings. In Ghana, Project Relate, developed by Google, uses AI-powered voice recognition to assist people with speech impairments, such as Oscar Darko-Sarfo, a barber whose cleft palate previously limited his ability to communicate. Although the technology has increased his confidence, limitations remain, as the app does not yet support local languages like Twi. This highlights a broader challenge: while AI can provide solutions, without local language and cultural adaptation, it may struggle to fully integrate into African societies.
AI’s potential in Africa extends beyond speech technology. In healthcare, AI is improving medical diagnostics in Zambia, and in Kenya, it's helping farmers identify crop diseases. Google’s Accra-based research center is working on AI models to predict famines and flash floods, addressing the continent’s limited weather radar infrastructure. Such innovations aim to "leapfrog" development, helping countries bypass traditional infrastructure constraints, similar to how mobile phones revolutionised communication and finance in Africa.
However, AI's transformative potential faces significant challenges. Critics argue that Africa contributes less than 0.5% to global AI research, and the continent risks being marginalised further. Bright Simons, co-founder of Imani Centre for Policy and Education, stresses that the notion of "AI leapfrogging" could falter due to Africa's limited computational power and expertise. Even as tech giants like Google and Microsoft invest in the region, local capacity building is essential to avoid reinforcing global inequalities. There's also concern over data privacy, as big tech companies extract data from Africa to develop AI models, which could lead to exploitation.
One promising area is education. AI-powered tutoring programs, like A2SV’s SkillBridge in Ethiopia, teach in local languages such as Amharic and Afan Oromo, potentially improving educational outcomes. Yet, many African students are disadvantaged by learning in second languages like English or French, exacerbating educational inequities. AI can help by generating local content, recording oral histories, and making learning more accessible.
Despite the challenges, AI offers Africa opportunities to address deep-rooted problems. With tailored applications in healthcare, agriculture, and education, AI could significantly improve quality of life. However, success hinges on the ability of African governments and institutions to harness the technology effectively, ensuring it meets local needs, protects data privacy, and promotes equity. Local leadership, investment in AI talent, and cultural integration will be critical for AI to serve as a true enabler of development on the continent.
Globally, AI research is dominated by countries like China, with 1.4 million publications, and the U.S., with 900,000. In contrast, the five leading sub-Saharan African countries have only produced 40,000 AI research papers combined, showing a significant gap in resources and expertise.
However, Africa is making strides in using AI to solve its unique challenges. Local initiatives, such as Data Science Nigeria, along with international partnerships, are helping to build homegrown solutions. With a focus on developing talent, improving infrastructure, and fostering global collaborations, Africa has the potential to play a major role in the AI revolution by creating technologies that directly benefit its people.