Evolution of AI in Africa

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By Gift Kenneth | Nov 11, 2021

Image courtesy of and under license from Shutterstock.com

Artificial intelligence is developing rapidly in Africa, enhancing a wide variety of sectors, such as healthcare, energy, agriculture, and finance. Despite several challenges faced by poor infrastructure in Africa, AI has been adaptable to solving many of the continent’s problems on a local level.

PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA - Artificial intelligence (AI) has a plethora of benefits for most organizations and is making the lives of people easier in a number of areas, whether it is smart banking systems, easier access to transportation, loans, and healthcare.

In Rwanda, drone companies such as Charis UAS use AI to power drones that deliver medical supplies to patients in remote areas. Ghanaian startup, BACE has developed facial recognition software that addresses the misrepresentation of African faces in datasets using a more diverse one which will be useful for institutions that require identity verification.¹ Nigerian farmers have embraced smart farming practices with the help of AgTech startups such as Zenvus and Rural Farmers Hub, to improve yield and optimize the use of resources. Tunisia founded AI startup, InstaDeep to help enterprises in the decision-making process.² ATLAN Space, a startup in Morocco, is tracking illegal fishing, marine life, and environmental risks using AI.

The list goes on as to how AI is being used in different parts of the continent to make lives easier.

What is AI Policy?

As stated in AI Policy 101, “AI Policy is defined as public policies that maximize the benefits of AI while minimizing its potential costs and risks.”

AI policies can be broken down into ten categories:³

1. Basic and Applied Research

2. Talent Attraction, Development and Retainment

3. Future of Work and Skills

4. Industrialization of AI Technologies

5. AI in the Government

6. Data and Digital Infrastructure

7. Ethics

8. Regulations

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