What can AI do for African economies?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is creeping into the fabric of economies across Africa. While most conversations about AI focus on the developed world, it’s essential to look at how this technology is transforming some of the poorest regions on the planet.

In Zambia, AI helps improve medical diagnostics. In Kenya, farmers use machine learning to detect crop diseases. Ethiopian students use AI to tailor education materials to their needs.

The reality of AI in Africa

Reports predict AI could add over $30 billion to Africa’s economy in the next ten years. By 2030, it might push the continent’s economy up by a massive $2.9 trillion.

That means a 3% growth each year, which is huge for countries struggling with development. If African businesses grab just 10% of the global AI market, it could bring in about $1.2 trillion. This could be a big deal for boosting the economy across the continent.

Some experts believe that AI can help Africa “leapfrog” past phases of development that the West had to grind through. Remember how mobile phones changed Africa’s economy by bypassing the need for landlines? The idea is the same.

Bill Gates recently said that well-run digital systems can strengthen governments. He thinks AI could turbocharge this trend.

Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to enter a “digital decade” by 2030, with over half the population getting online. A 1% increase in internet access could boost GDP by nearly 6%.

Big Tech’s bringing AI to Africa

Microsoft recently announced a $1 billion investment in Kenya, including a geothermal-powered data center and an innovation lab.

The company’s president Brad Smith compared AI to the printing press and electricity, noting that Africa missed out on electricity but doesn’t need to miss out on AI.

Meanwhile, Google has been ahead of the game, opening an AI research center in Ghana in 2018 and another one in Kenya in 2022.

It has also invested $1 billion in digital infrastructure across Africa, including a submarine cable linking the continent to Australia and Europe.

At the Ghana research center, engineers are tackling African problems with AI. Jason Hickey, who heads the team, believes in the power of AI to change Africa. They’re using AI to predict famines and map buildings in informal settlements.

One of AI’s biggest opportunities is in education. In places where students learn in their second or third language, AI could help students learn in their native tongue.

Healthcare is another area. AI helps analyze ultrasounds from portable devices operated by novices. Most African countries don’t have enough trained sonographers or equipment, meaning 95% of pregnant women lack access to proper scans.

An AI study in Zambia found that the technology could assess fetal health as well as trained sonographers. This kind of tech could save lives across the continent.

But it isn’t all rosy. Some folks are worried that AI could deepen inequalities when it comes to who can afford what. Africans are already classist enough.

Privacy concerns are also heating up. In 2020, Ghana bought 10,000 security cameras from China, using AI-powered facial recognition.

AI can be used for good, but what happens when it’s in the wrong hands? Tyranny becomes a lot easier with AI-powered surveillance.

Some African campaigners are concerned about a “data grab.” They fear that big corporations from the U.S. are collecting African data to sell services elsewhere.

African labor is often used to train AI models for companies like Google, sometimes for as little as $2 per hour. The data they generate ends up benefiting other parts of the world.

Africa’s linguistic diversity presents another challenge. Many African languages are oral, meaning there isn’t enough written content to train AI models.