Without doubt, recent years have seen concerted efforts in the development and regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). Some of this has been driven by the Global North, as Scott Timcke has written, although the UN’s High Level on AI has sought to create global regulatory principles. More recently the African Union (AU) released the awaited continental Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy in August 2024.
The AU’s AI Strategy seeks to shape the direction of emerging technology across Africa, from its implementation to its regulation. The strategy is a welcome initiative, particularly as the rest of the world has been taking visible steps in AI investments and in shaping regulations which, in turn, impact on Africa. It can be expected that the AU member states will approve and implement the strategy, especially since it holds potential to aid Africa’s socio-economic transformation and cultural renaissance.
Africa's AI efforts
In addition to the AU’s AI strategy, African AI actors have been taking stock of global conversations and have tapped into the many opportunities for engagements including on AI regulatory efforts. Some results have emerged from this engagement. To date, nine of the 54 African countries have demonstrated concerted efforts towards developing national AI regulations. Six passed frameworks in the form of Acts of parliament or policies. And three countries have either set up bodies and developed national AI guidelines. The continental AI framework will accelerate the adoption of national AI priorities, regulations, and investment strategies across the continent.
The AU's AI strategy is necessary to harmonise the region's work on AI and present a clearer picture of these efforts. This is particularly important given the region’s consistently low rankings in AI-focused assessments, as the 2024 Global Index on Responsible AI shows. Sidebar: The 2024 Global Index on Responsible AI, which measured progress in 138 countries, found that 41 African countries scored in the bottom range of 80 and below, placing them in the bottom 20% globally. This assessment remarked that Africa is the region where responsible AI needs the most support, due to low investment and adoption of AI technology, which has resulted in a lack of policy and regulatory focus in this area by governments.
The Oxford Government AI Readiness Index also found that Sub-Saharan Africa had the lowest average score of any region, signifying serious challenges to government AI adoption. However, the 2023 edition of the index did record "real growth" - three countries published new national AI strategies, one announced a forthcoming strategy, and three others worked with UNESCO to adopt and implement strategies aligned with their AI ethics recommendation. Despite this progress, more governance-level efforts are required given the increasingly embedded role of AI across the region.
What the AU AI framework targets
In recognising the disparities in AI within and amongst countries, the African Union's Continental Strategy on Artificial intelligence (AI) holds great promises “for Africa’s socio-economic transformation and cultural renaissance”, as set out within the AU's mandate. The continental strategy will contribute to the attainment of the African Union Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals.
The strategy is set on five key pillars: seeking to maximise AI benefits, building capacities for AI, minimising AI risks, highlighting the need for African public and private sector investments in AI, as well as concentrating on regional and international cooperation and partnerships.
In its 15 action areas, the strategy seemingly covers all the necessary areas core for AI development, adoption and regulations by providing for the establishment of an appropriate AI governance system and regulations at regional and national levels. It also focuses on promoting the adoption of AI in the public sector with a view to delivering efficient services to citizens, businesses and others. The strategy further encourages the adoption of AI by the private sector, including small and medium enterprises while also focussing on creating an enabling environment for a vibrant and inclusive AI startup ecosystem.
What that target requires
While the continent should indeed welcome the development of the AU’s AI strategy, member nations have ground to cover. This begins with prioritising AI at the national level and mobilising the necessary domestic resources to make AI a focus area of public-private partnership. In its October 2024 projection, Google estimated that AI could contribute a staggering $30 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa’s economy. To make this a reality, the region needs to promote and invest in AI startups as engines of AI growth. This entails investing in youth digital skills in general, and AI skills in particular, to create a critical mass of innovators who will lay the foundation for Africa’s competitiveness in the global AI Market.
Accordingly, the recent launch of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Accelerator Hub at the Namibia University of Science and Technology is a positive step. However, the region's biggest challenge will be developing innovative, agile regulatory frameworks to address the safety and security challenges posed by advanced AI systems. This is crucial given the socio-dynamics and human rights considerations unique to the region.
To achieve the full potential of AI, partnerships are key for Africa. The AU’s AI Strategy highlights this by calling for a meaningful multi-stakeholder process, with collaboration from stakeholders such as academia, civil society, media, governments, as well as the private sector, to maximise the benefits and minimise the risks of AI in Africa. The strategy further emphasises the need for Africa’s accelerated participation in global AI governance debates, structures and platforms.
Participation is one thing; meaningful partnership is another. Africa could emphasise to the rest of the world that financial and technical resources for AI development partnerships in Africa, has been coming from the US, and China in particular. Given the political development in the US this past week Africa must ensure that these partnerships should benefit Africa. The US was the leading source of top computer programs, known as AI models, in 2023, according to the Stanford AI Index. China leads globally in terms of AI patents with 61.1% of patents.
The increase in the development of national AI strategies across Africa heralds a possible new direction on how the region positions AI in the short to medium term. The publication of the continental strategy provides valuable guidance and a blueprint for all member countries to follow, saving them precious time and resources in drafting and implementing their own national AI strategies.
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