Key Insights:

• AU’s AI strategy promotes integration in key industries, driving innovation and development.
• The strategy emphasizes AI governance, skills development, and startup support.
• Implementation from 2025–2030 focuses on governance and AI deployment.

The African Union (AU) has approved the “Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy,” a key initiative aimed at accelerating the adoption and development of artificial intelligence (AI) across the continent. This strategy, which was announced on August 9, 2024, emphasizes the role of AI in driving innovation and supporting economic growth among its member states. The AU’s Executive Council officially adopted the strategy during its 45th Ordinary Session held in Accra, Ghana, on July 18-19, 2024.

Focus on AI Integration and Governance

The newly adopted strategy outlines several critical areas of focus, including the creation of an integrated hardware and software environment tailored for AI and machine learning workloads. This environment is intended to facilitate data processing and deployment, enabling member states to harness the power of AI effectively. 

The strategy also calls for the establishment of robust AI governance systems to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI technologies. These governance frameworks will be aligned with the AU’s broader developmental objectives, as outlined in the Agenda 2063 and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

In addition to governance, the strategy prioritizes the adoption of AI in the public sector. It aims to integrate AI into key sectors that are crucial to the continent’s development, such as healthcare, education, and agriculture. By promoting AI adoption in these areas, the strategy seeks to enhance service delivery, improve efficiency, and address pressing challenges faced by African countries.

Encouraging Private Sector Engagement and Innovation

The strategy also places significant emphasis on encouraging AI adoption within the private sector. It aims to create a conducive environment for AI startups by ensuring the availability of high-quality datasets and promoting AI skills development. The AU’s strategy underscores the importance of fostering research and innovation in AI, as well as implementing ethical AI principles that respect African culture and values.

Moreover, the strategy highlights the need for technical standards to ensure the safety and security of AI technologies. It also emphasizes the importance of accelerating investment in AI and enhancing regional cooperation among member states. By boosting African participation in global AI governance, the strategy seeks to position the continent as a key player in the global AI landscape.

Phased Implementation of the AI Strategy

The AU’s AI strategy is set to be implemented over a five-year period, from 2025 to 2030, and is divided into two distinct phases. The first phase, spanning from 2025 to 2026, will focus on establishing the necessary governance frameworks, developing national AI strategies, mobilizing resources, and enhancing capacities within the AU, regional economic communities, specialized agencies, and member states. This foundational phase is critical for laying the groundwork for the successful implementation of AI initiatives across the continent.

The second phase, covering the years 2027 to 2030, will concentrate on the practical implementation of critical projects and initiatives outlined in the strategy. This phase will see the deployment of AI technologies in key sectors and the scaling of successful projects across member states. By the end of this phase, the AU aims to have established a robust AI ecosystem that supports sustainable development and economic growth across the continent.

AI Developments and Initiatives in African Countries

Several African countries have already made significant strides in AI development, with six countries—Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal—having developed stand-alone AI strategies as of July 2024. Other nations, including Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, are working to integrate AI with emerging technologies such as blockchain.

In Nigeria, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) has announced plans to establish research centers focused on emerging technologies, including AI, the Internet of Things (IoT), and blockchain, across the country’s six geopolitical zones. 

These research centers aim to drive innovation and support the development of AI and other emerging technologies. NITDA’s Director-General, Kashifu Inuwa, emphasized the agency’s commitment to building a strong technology research ecosystem, stating that a special-purpose vehicle would be established to oversee these key areas of focus.