How Africa is negotiating the race to Artificial Intelligency

“The data war is a sensitive war in the world”. This reflection by Samuel Ervé Mandeng, promoter of Cameroon Digital Boost, testifies to the stakes of Artificial Intelligence (AI) today. This tool has become an economic vector in Western countries. In its evolution, AI takes no account of land borders. This is an advantage that African countries need to capitalize on if they are to make their mark in this sector. Some governments have understood this.

They have supported startups in this direction. Initiatives that demonstrate Africa’s determination to make Artificial Intelligence a major element of economic transformation.In 2023, the “Government AI Readiness Index 2023”, reveals that Mauritius, Egypt, and South Africa occupy 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively among countries committed to developing ecosystems conducive to technological innovation. These countries have invested in development policies, fostering the rise of AI-focused startups and companies.

“Overall, the Maghreb countries are making huge strides in the digital field, to the extent that there is a notable rivalry between Morocco and Algeria. Resources are being deployed to create an ecosystem conducive to the recruitment of talent on the continent.  Finally, the contribution of South Africa and Nigeria cannot be overlooked. These two countries are integrating this technology into several sectors of their industrial fabric,

says Ahmid Nchare Karie, cybersecurity expert and CEO of Itsc Sarl Cybersecurity. According to data collected on the Orange website, AI could bring $1.5 trillion to the African economy by 2030. And that’s only if it occupies 10% of the global AI market. The race is on. African countries must play their part.

Morocco stands out

Morocco ranks 6th in Africa among the countries best prepared to adopt Artificial Intelligence. The artificial intelligence market in Morocco is expected to reach $348 million by 2024, according to the latest data from Statista. This growth is supported by a forecast annual rate of around 19.34%. These figures point to a market worth $1.2 billion by 2030. The dynamic has not gone unnoticed on the international scene. The development of AI is a key concern for the Kingdom of Morocco. For the Minister Delegate in charge of Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, Ghita Mezzour,

“we need to set up a system dedicated to Artificial Intelligence as a lever for innovation and economic growth in the kingdom… This would generate new services, jobs and skills.

project that demonstrates Morocco’s commitment to creating momentum in the emerging AI sector.Morocco’s private sector supports the state in its fight for digital leadership. As AI continues to take hold in various sectors, companies are strategically positioning themselves to take advantage of this technological revolution. Attijariwafa bank has marked a significant step forward with the inauguration of the “AI Center”, the first hub of innovation and excellence dedicated to artificial intelligence in the private sector in Morocco.

This move underlines the banking sector’s determination to stay at the forefront of innovation by using AI to optimize processes in international trade. Artificial Intelligence presents itself as a niche opportunity for Moroccan entrepreneurs. However, the revolution created by the birth of chatGpt highlights the emergency need to regulate this promising sector.

“To regulate AI, a pragmatic approach would be to establish global standards that encourage transparency, auditability and accountability of AI systems. This is work that is beginning to be done and it is vital to create a global AI council that brings together all countries. It would also be important to promote inclusive education on AI to enable widespread public understanding, suggests Badr Boussabat, AI expert, lecturer and economist.

AI penetrates key sectors of African economies

Africa is gradually adopting AI this innovation has already touched many sectors of activity on the dark continent. Its use is highlighting its transformative potential in areas such as healthcare, agriculture and financial services among others. In Ghana, for example, Artificial Intelligence is being used to optimize the accuracy and efficiency of medical diagnoses. The start-up named “Mpharma” has developed an AI-powered platform that assists doctors in the most accurate diagnosis of diseases and pharmacists in the appropriate prescription of drugs to patients.

Similarly, data platforms such as “Zenvus” in Nigeria facilitate access to crucial information for farmers. This translates into improved yields and agricultural productivity. In South Africa, another example of the use of AI concerns improving the performance of financial services. The start-up “ThisIsMe” has developed a space enabling financial institutions to better control their customers’ identities.

“In Africa, artificial intelligence is mainly used in the IT sector to improve processes and develop innovative solutions to problems. However, the banking and agricultural sectors have also adopted artificial intelligence solutions in Africa. Finally, we have web-oriented products that use artificial intelligence to deliver automation services for website creation, autonomous payment management and online services, explains Ahmid Nchare Karie.

Harmonizing policies Today, in the age of globalization the African continent is trying to gain market share on the international stage. Artificial intelligence therefore appears to be an effective solution. Governments need to implement strategies to capitalize on this technology to create wealth.The contribution of artificial intelligence to development depends on the endogenous policies of each country and how it sees its economic and industrial development,says the expert. However, the gap between the integration of AI into the development policies of African countries is still very wide. This highlights the urgent need for a common strategic approach to prepare national economies for the adoption of AI.