GSMA’s Post

This year has started with diving deeper into the AI Policy world, as the tech gains more interest and the bubble builds, we need to build the foundations for healthy and self-sustaining ecosystems that can survive beyond the bubble. The Center for AI and Digital Policy Clinic has been a great development and learning, guiding the research and evaluation of global policy and considering how to leverage those learnings in Africa. This has been especially relevant having worked on Nigeria's National AI Policy and Tanzania's AI Policy Framework for the Health Sector. Tanzania AI Community, Center for AI and Digital Policy, African Union Development Agency-NEPAD, Alliance4ai, Ai4afrika, IRCAI - International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence under the auspices of UNESCO, , Marc Rotenberg, Karine Caunes, Merve Hickok #AI #AIPolicy #ArtificialIntelligence

Unlocking Africa's Future: Empowering Communities through Equitable Innovation 🌍✨ A seismic shift is needed in AI governance to harness the full potential of artificial intelligence in fostering economic equity and self-determination in Africa. Haileleol Tibebu points out the critical need to transform Africa from a mere data mine into a powerful player in the AI landscape. It's not just about optimizing agriculture or enhancing public health; it's about rewriting the rules of AI development that currently echo a neo-colonial narrative. Africa's voice is pivotal. As global AI governance standards take shape, the inclusion of African perspectives could prevent the perpetuation of biases and ensure the technologies developed are reflective of diverse global needs. Moreover, there's an urgent need to safeguard cultural identities and push back against the marginalization of indigenous knowledge. AI should not be a tool that sidelines local languages and dialects but one that empowers and revitalizes them. Join us in embracing and supporting initiatives that propel Africa towards a more just and inclusive AI future. The time for strategic alliances and ethical engagement is now! 🔗 #AIForGood #TechInAfrica #AIethics #DataDignity #InclusiveAI #DigitalEquity #ResponsibleAI #AIandCulture #FutureofAI #AfricanInnovation

As we continue to navigate through these increasingly complex times, the role Africa plays in shaping our future world is pivotal. The continent, with its rich blend of cultures and traditions coupled with an uncontainable spirit for innovation and change, holds enormous potential for providing unique solutions that address global issues. One such area where Africa's promise shines brightly is technology penetration, particularly artificial intelligence (AI). Far from just being tools employed for convenience or cost-cutting measures, AI technologies are now central components powering various sectors, enhancing productivity while creating a tangible social impact. From AI system deployments in agriculture for precision farming to data-driven healthcare innovations aimed at improving diagnostics and patient care, this rapidly evolving tech field offers transformative solutions suited uniquely to African contexts. Africa stands poised not just on the precipice of remarkable technological development but also promising light toward path-breaking advancements positively impacting our shared human experience globally! However, the digital divide is a serious concern. According to the Internet Society, between 2019 and 2021, Internet use in Africa jumped by 23%. Despite this impressive growth, there is still a coverage gap of over 840 million people who don’t have access to reliable and affordable Internet access. #digitaldivide #africa #ai #digitalliteracy #ailiteracy #digitallearning #highereducation #Ai4africa #TechnologyAdoption #edtech #ArtificialIntelligence #GlobalImpact #ProudToBeAfrican

Last year, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Ludik on my podcast. We talked about how AI can help Africa, based on his book "Democratizing Artificial Intelligence To Benefit Everyone." Dr Jacques Ludik's passion for using smart tech to make Africa better struck a chord with me. Since then, we've been working together. It's been truly amazing having him on our team, as our AI expert and AI lead consultant at Compu-Connect Education. 🎤 Exciting news! Dr. Ludik will be one of the AI Keynote speaker at our upcoming 2nd global Summit on "The Future of AI in Africa" in Lusaka, Zambia. Our Theme this year is, “Unlocking Opportunities in Banking, Finance, HR, Mining, Healthcare, Cyber Security, Telecoms, Education, Agriculture & Operations.” 🚀 Our goal is to unite professionals from diverse fields to harness the power of AI, enhancing efficiency across organizations and propelling Africa to greatness. 📣 Stay tuned for the AI summit dates! Let's make education, economies, and life better for everyone in Africa. Join us! 🔗 Listen to our full chat by clicking the link in the comments. Let's make Africa's future bright with AI! #AIforAfrica #FutureIsBright

📢 Save The Date AI Maturity Assessment Framework for South Africa 🌍 A collaborative effort of the project team below, who have crafted a plan to consider how we might determine the level of AI Maturity in South Africa, before we consider a strategy and/or policy on AI , so that such policies or strategies could be evidenced based and data led. FAIR Forward, a project of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH together with Department of Communications & Digital Technologies (DCDT), the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), The South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) and University of the Western Cape want you to join us on this journey. Make your voice heard, have your say on how we create, use, adopt and govern #AI in South Africa. Register now (link in comments) and find out more about the project and how you can get involved. More info to follow about the program. #AI #data #governance #aipolicy #africa #southafrica #framework #aimaturity #collaboration Leona Craffert (PhD)Prof Elizabeth (Liz) Archer Wouter Grove (PhD) Luisa Olaya Daniel Brumund debra setsiba Alfred Mashishi GIZ South Africa, Lesotho & eSwatini Ulrich Bormann Angela Shumba Msizi Gwala CA(SA) Paul Plantinga Vukosi Marivate Ntsibane Ntlatlapa, PhD Kaven Naidoo

Gilford Hapanyengwi Hon Tatenda Mavetera Pauline Ndawana Matanda Beatrice Tonhodzayi (MBA), Zimbabwe we are nowhere near being ready for AI, Government AI readiness  The 2021 Government AI Readiness Index indicates significant differences among African countries when it comes to how prepared governments are to use AI. Within the region, Mauritius (52.71), Egypt (49.75), and South Africa (48.24) have the highest scores, consistent with the fact that they are also among the most developed African economies. At the opposite end are the Democratic Republic of the Congo (23.32), Angola (22.87), and the Central African Republic (20.73). No African country is ranked among the top 50 in the global ranking of 160 countries (Mauritius occupies the 58th position)

Designed to reshape the world, Artificial Intelligence is creating ripples across an unexpected canvas – Africa. AI is changing the landscape of work, opening doors to economic prosperity, job creation, and community upliftment. Big strides are being made in this vibrant continent as indigenous challenges are being met with innovative AI solutions. From using cutting-edge technology to screen tuberculosis cases in Nigeria to adopting AI in Cape Town for digitizing and translating African languages, the applications extend as far as the imagination can reach. Despite encountering obstacles like limited high-tech infrastructure and access to high-quality data, Africa is not stepping back. It's leveraging community-led data curation and expanding education programs to build local AI expertise. The aim? To create inclusive technologies that cater to diverse demographic needs. The journey of Africa leveraging AI for growth and empowerment speaks volumes about the innovative spirit empowered by technology. However, it is essential to remember that the road ahead may not be one without challenges. What do you think about how AI is transforming Africa's work landscape? How can we address the challenges to unleash the full potential of AI in Africa? Your insights could be invaluable. Share your thoughts in the comments. Encourage conversations. Together, we can shape the future. #ArtificialIntelligence #DataScience #Automation #Innovation #AfricaAI #FutureOfWork

#AI is at the top of everyone's minds at the moment. In Africa it holds fantastic potential to boost the economy and support the #SDGs - looking forward to hearing more tomorrow as we dive into some of the use cases and opportunities from a study that analysed over 90 use cases in Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. To join the webinar sign up here 👉 https://bit.ly/45Az0xi

Day 3: On the third day of our adventure, centered around the theme "Artificial Intelligence and Africa," we delve into a captivating topic: -How is innovation and research in artificial intelligence unfolding in Africa? Innovation and research in artificial intelligence are experiencing an unprecedented surge in Africa, promising exciting advancements. In a continent where creativity and resilience are ingrained values, brilliant minds are dedicated to tackling local and global challenges by harnessing the power of AI. Notable figures in this journey include Karim Beguir, who stands out as the founder of InstaDeep in 2014, a company offering AI-based solutions across various sectors, including healthcare and industry. Moustapha Cisse, a leading AI figure, led the research team at Google AI in Accra before establishing Kera Health, a company revolutionizing the medical field and supporting continuous professional development for healthcare practitioners. Concurrently, research associations actively contribute to research and the education of young Africans in emerging technologies. African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), founded in 2003 in South Africa, aims to promote science and mathematics in Africa, crucial domains for applying and developing artificial intelligence. AIMS recruits and trains students and educators across the continent. Masakhane is an association of researchers leaving a significant impact by ensuring that Africa develops its own technologies. Currently, they are working on a text generation model in African languages to preserve our cultural heritage, which has been endangered since the colonial era. Renowned African companies, such as Lelapa AI, have undertaken the mission to recover African artworks worldwide using artificial intelligence. Zindi, an African platform dedicated to data science, highlights AI through projects and challenges. While Africa may lag behind other continents in terms of technology-friendly infrastructure, it stands out with remarkable advancements and developments, both at the continental and global scale. The journey continues 🚀 #aiandafrica #deeplearning #ai #africa #tech

We’ve been busy and we’re still keeping at it - working to develop a people-centric AI framework in Eastern Africa, which is crucial for maximising AI's socio-economic and cultural benefits. In line with this Dr. Shikoh Gitau will be speaking at the Eastern Africa Sub-Regional Forum on Artificial Intelligence (EARFAI), in Nairobi. The event is hosted by UNESCO and the Government of Kenya, and the focus this time is on "Harnessing AI for Sustainable Development in Eastern Africa." Dr.Shikoh will join Panel 6 to discuss "Maximising AI Benefits for Socio-Economic Development and Cultural Renaissance in Eastern Africa." The question that session will be answering is: how can AI can drive progress in light of the region's diverse cultural heritage, all the while empowering Africa’s youth and the creative industry. #EARFAI #unesco #innovation #digitaltransformation