Africa could reap the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), but only with the right infrastructure in place. The continent currently has one of the widest digital divides.
Speaking on the last day of the 2024 African Economic Conference (AEC) in Gaborone, Botswana, Dr Pedro Conceicao, one of the authors of the upcoming 2025 Human Development Report (HDR), said that compared to the other regions, AI in sub-Saharan Africa is more likely to augment than substitute occupations and tasks.
"Instead of looking at AI and digital technologies as something that fascinates us by the extent to which it can perhaps surpass what people can do, the focus should be thinking through the institutions and the policies that we can implement to enable these technologies to augment what people can do. To augment human development," said Dr Conceicao.
The 2025 Human Development Report: Harnessing the opportunities of the digital transformation to advance human development, is one of three reports examining uncertainty arising from intensifying polarisation, destabilised planetary systems, and expanding societal transformation, namely digitalization.
The report will explore the intricate dynamics of digitalization, including AI, within the framework of human development, addressing its profound and multifaceted impacts on society. With a people-centred approach, it will critically examine how digitalization can either amplify or mitigate existing inequalities, reshape political landscapes, and redefine economic structures.
Dr Conceicao admitted that there were already downsides to AI, including posing a problem of exclusion as many people are not represented in the information that is used to train these models, and job losses. But generally, he explained, there are more benefits than disadvantages, including lowering the barriers to entry that in the past would require very highly specialised skills, and helping firms grow rapidly.
However, other panellists raised concerns over the preparedness of the continent for this advanced technology, due to the lack of basic infrastructure such as electricity and data connectivity.
Natalie Jabangwe, the Executive Secretary at the Timbuktoo Foundation said that despite the progress in digital inclusion and across the value chain on the continent, Africa is not ready in terms of infrastructure. "There is a big buzz and hype about AI, but do we have the technological infrastructure to derive and gain the benefits of this evolution? No, not really. You can't deliver a lot of these digital advancements if we don't have power in countries, which is critical in building capacity in terms of solutions that will transform people's lives," said Jabangwe.
Alain Ndayishimiye, Head of AI and Machine Learning at the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution in Rwanda, said Kigali, which has ambitions of becoming an AI powerhouse on the continent, is yet to make major progress on this advanced digital technology, and is still grappling with early adoption issues such as infrastructure, regulations and other policy concerns. "However, as Rwanda continues to register the progress that we have seen, its digital transformation journey needs to address some of the concerns including data quality, data privacy and workforce readiness," added Ndayishimiye.
Countries such as Botswana and Namibia, however, have made progress in digital connectivity, improving the lives of their people, and businesses, by providing online access in public spaces such as schools and hospitals, while reducing data costs.
The 2024 AEC came to an end on Monday. Co-hosted by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), it brought together African leaders, business executives, academics, young researchers and experts under the theme, "Securing Africa's Economic Future Amidst Rising Uncertainty".
The event was held against the backdrop of numerous shocks, including geopolitical tensions due to wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the fear of trade wars between the US and China, increased civil unrest on the African continent, and climate change.
