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Writer's pictureSteve Moradel

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa: New Opportunities to Propel the Continent to New Horizons





While the relentless race for data—the cornerstone of this new revolution—appears indispensable, fears and protests are emerging worldwide regarding the quantity, variety, and confidentiality of the data collected. Although Africa's lag in the field of AI is a reality, it could be a real boon. Africa has no one to catch up to and must, in the field of new technologies as in other areas, write its own story and define its own model. It does not need to join the frantic race pursued by China, the United States, or Europe, and above all, should not replicate their mistakes in the field of AI. Africa must follow its own framework, write its own narrative based on African realities and specificities. It needs to draw inspiration from best practices observed elsewhere and avoid the numerous pitfalls. Africa must harness the benefits that AI can bring in addressing major challenges such as climate change, food security, inequality, health, and education.


Challenges and Opportunities for Adopting Human-Centered AI


Despite notable progress, Africa still faces challenges to fully benefit from AI. While South Africa leads in AI readiness on the continent, sub-Saharan Africa shows the lowest average score globally. Internet access remains a major challenge in sub-Saharan Africa, with low average scores in terms of household access and device costs. However, progress is being made, with countries like Benin, Ghana, Nigeria, and Rwanda currently developing national AI strategies. The private sector also plays a dynamic role in the region, particularly in Kenya and Nigeria, where startup ecosystems are thriving.

African states must therefore establish impact assessment frameworks such as ethical impact assessments to identify and analyze the benefits and risks of AI systems across all sectors, especially the most sensitive ones (education, health...). They must develop data governance strategies to ensure the quality of AI training data, protect privacy, promote the safe and ethical sharing of data, and facilitate the use of quality datasets. They must also encourage cooperation and interoperability in the data domain.

The verifiability and traceability of AI systems must be promoted. Existing and proposed AI systems should undergo transparent assessments, and independent AI ethics officers should be appointed to oversee ethical impact assessments and ensure the ethical compliance of AI systems.

Finally, the reliability and integrity of AI systems are essential to ensure their use in the service of humanity and the environment, and values such as respect for human rights must be applied throughout the AI systems' life cycle. Public awareness and the promotion of a culture of innovation are also key elements. African governments must encourage public and stakeholder participation in AI discussions by setting up awareness programs and scientific outreach initiatives. This will help generate interest and engagement in AI development while fostering an ethical and responsible understanding of this technology.


Eradicating Poverty and Addressing Gigantic Health Challenges


A study conducted by Stanford researchers revealed that AI combined with high-resolution satellite imagery was able to predict poverty in Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Malawi with up to 99% accuracy. This information is crucial for policymakers, allowing them to monitor economic well-being and assess the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs. Additionally, investment in agriculture, supported by AI, can be up to four times more effective in reducing poverty than in other economic sectors.


Revolutionizing Healthcare Through AI in Africa


Startups like DoctorAI, based in Rwanda, are leveraging AI to tackle the challenges in Africa's healthcare sector. Their mobile AI models offer user-friendly solutions that reduce diagnostic errors and promote standardized care. For example, DoctorAI provides AI analyzers for breast and chest X-rays with high accuracy rates. This innovative approach can revolutionize healthcare access in Africa, particularly in remote areas.

In the healthcare sector, a pioneering company named Zipline stands out for its mission to deliver blood supplies safely and reliably wherever needed. Researchers have studied the effects of drone delivery, as well as delivery times and blood product wastage. A study published by The Lancet Global Health highlights the importance of drone deliveries in healthcare in Africa. Between March 17, 2017, and December 31, 2019, Zipline delivered a total of 12,733 blood products by drone, 5,717 (43%) of which were emergency orders. The average drone delivery time was 49 minutes, which was 79 minutes faster than traditional road delivery methods.

In 2016, the Rwandan government launched an initiative to deliver blood products to about twenty healthcare facilities across the country in collaboration with Zipline. This intervention aimed to reduce delivery times, limit stockouts of blood components, and digitize the supply chain. Blood components were stored in two distribution centers, each equipped with up to 20 drones, capable of serving delivery points within an 80 km radius, covering an area of 22,500 km². The study shows a significant decrease in blood unit expirations after the intervention, highlighting the effectiveness of drone delivery in improving the availability of blood products.


Today, Zipline continues to serve nearly 1,900 healthcare facilities in several African countries, making more than 13,000 deliveries per day and transporting over 130,000 essential products such as medications and medical supplies. Their fast and reliable delivery services help save lives and meet the urgent needs of the population. To accelerate AI development in Africa, strong political commitment, integrating AI into national economic policies, and creating a conducive ecosystem are essential. African governments must develop regulations and ethical principles before widely adopting these technologies to ensure good governance. Initiatives by the African Union and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights call for the development of legal and ethical frameworks to regulate AI and emerging technologies on the continent.


African Strategy to Become an AI Patent Champion


The African strategy to become an AI patent champion must be based on a series of key actions. First, it is essential to invest heavily in research and development, drawing on the examples of China and the United States. This approach will enable Africa to generate cutting-edge innovations and become competitive on the global AI stage.

In parallel, it is crucial to establish AI centers of excellence, inspired by renowned research institutes such as Baidu Research, Tencent AI Lab, and OpenAI. These centers will foster collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, and governments, creating an environment conducive to innovation and stimulating new ideas.

Strengthening university programs focused on AI is also an important step. To protect intellectual property rights in AI, it is essential to establish a solid legal and regulatory framework. This framework will protect innovations, encourage patent filing, and effectively combat counterfeiting and intellectual property rights violations.

A dynamic innovation ecosystem is another essential pillar of this strategy. By creating environments conducive to innovation, similar to Chinese tech zones and American tech hubs, African governments will encourage collaboration, synergies, and the emergence of promising startups and companies.


Promoting international collaboration is a key factor for Africa. By establishing partnerships with countries and organizations leading in AI patents, Africa can benefit from their expertise and maximize collective advantages while fostering mutual growth and fruitful cooperation.

Supporting startups and local companies is also crucial. By offering tax incentives, grants, and specific funding for AI research and innovation, African governments will encourage the growth of local businesses and stimulate the creation of high-tech jobs.

Establishing support structures, such as innovation centers, research labs, and tech accelerators, will play a key role in AI development in Africa. These structures will foster the emergence of talent and promising companies. Intra-African collaboration is a crucial element to strengthen the continent's position in AI patents. By promoting expertise exchanges and encouraging the sharing of best practices, African countries can maximize their collective potential. Regional cooperation and collaboration mechanisms will help overcome common challenges and make the best use of available resources.

Attracting talent and promoting researcher mobility are key factors for stimulating innovation. African governments must establish scholarship and exchange programs, inspired by American initiatives, to encourage collaboration and knowledge sharing among top researchers at the regional and international levels.


Raising awareness and providing training on patents and intellectual property (IP) are crucial aspects of the African strategy. By informing researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers about the importance of AI patents and how to protect them, training and awareness programs will help strengthen understanding and harness the economic benefits linked to protecting AI innovations. Access to funding is a key element in supporting innovative AI companies and projects. African governments must facilitate this access by drawing inspiration from existing financing mechanisms in Europe and the United States, such as venture capital funds and government grants. This will help support the growth and development of promising AI initiatives on the continent.


The Potential of African Diasporas: Collective Intelligence in the Service of Development


Collective intelligence is a valuable resource for Africa in its quest to become a major AI player. African diasporas, comprising researchers, developers, financiers, experts, and more, can play a key role in this process. Their experience, skills, and passion for the continent can contribute to stimulating innovation, investment, and collaboration.

African diasporas represent a vital link between international communities and the continent. They can bring advanced technological knowledge, investment networks, and collaboration opportunities. By working closely with local actors, they can help create international partnerships, facilitate technology transfers, and support the emergence of startups and innovative companies in Africa.

Initiatives such as the "Tech Diaspora Forum" and the "African Diaspora Network" play an essential role in bringing together members of the African diaspora and creating platforms for exchange and collaboration. These networks offer opportunities for sharing experiences, mentoring, and funding for African entrepreneurs and innovators. They also foster the creation of bridges between global tech ecosystems and Africa, facilitating access to the resources and expertise necessary for AI's growth on the continent.

To encourage greater participation of African diasporas, it is essential to strengthen ties between African communities abroad and local actors, including universities, research centers, and companies. African governments can play a key role by establishing policies and programs aimed at facilitating collaboration and knowledge sharing between diasporas and local actors.


By harnessing the collective intelligence of African diasporas, Africa can benefit from a significant contribution in terms of expertise, funding, and international networks. This will promote innovation, entrepreneurship, and inclusive development in Africa, strengthening its position as a leader in AI and a global AI patent champion. This leading position will allow Africa to drive its economic growth, foster innovation, and create high-tech jobs while contributing to the continent's sustainable development.

To realize this vision, it is crucial to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to assess progress and make necessary adjustments. African governments should regularly organize forums and conferences on AI, bringing together experts, researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to exchange ideas, share knowledge, and strengthen collaboration.


In parallel, it is important to promote entrepreneurship and support local startups in AI. African governments should establish incubators and tech accelerators, offer grants and tax incentives, and facilitate access to funding for promising young companies. This will foster the emergence of new, innovative, and dynamic companies, creating a thriving innovation ecosystem.

Protecting intellectual property is also a crucial aspect of Africa's AI patent strategy. African governments must strengthen intellectual property laws, simplify patent filing procedures, and encourage collaboration between research institutions, companies, and regulatory authorities. Strong IP protection will encourage investment, create jobs, and foster continuous innovation.


Finally, promoting the ethical and responsible use of AI in Africa is essential. Governments, researchers, and companies must commit to respecting principles of transparency, accountability, and privacy in developing and using AI. This will help build public trust in these technologies and ensure their long-term acceptance.

By adopting a comprehensive and coordinated approach, Africa can truly become a leader in AI patents. Implementing this strategy requires strong government commitment, close collaboration among various actors, and a drive for innovation and excellence. With such vision and effective execution, Africa can position itself at the forefront of the AI revolution, shaping its future and contributing to a more prosperous and technologically advanced world.


Sources:

  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - "Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property Policy"

  • United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) - "Artificial Intelligence in Africa: A Primer"

  • World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) - "Innovation, Technology and Intellectual Property in Africa"

  • NBC News - "AI: A Major Asset in the Fight Against Hunger and Poverty: Here's Why"

  • African Business - "ChatGPT and the Future of AI in Africa"

  • Disrupt Africa - "How DoctorAI in Rwanda is Using Artificial Intelligence to Improve Health Outcomes"

  • IOL - "Artificial Intelligence Landscape in Africa: Part Two"

  • The Lancet Global Health - "Drone Delivery of Blood Products in Rwanda"

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