AI is booming in Africa! From improving farming and education to even language preservation. With AI set to add more than a trillion dollars to Africa's economy by 2030, will Africa lead the revolution, or is the continent just supplying data to global tech giants?
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00:00Artificial intelligence is transforming lives across Africa, but there is a catch.
00:06So let's get into it.
00:08The African Union has launched a continental AI strategy to ensure that
00:12AI is developed ethically and responsibly.
00:16Countries like Kenya, Egypt, and Mauritius already have national AI policy.
00:21Olangizi, an AI-powered chatbot from Malawi, gives instant farming advice in the Chichewa
00:27language, helping farmers increase their yields and improve food security.
00:32Education is another big winner.
00:34The Africa AI ED 2024 was an event held in Ghana that brought together AI enthusiasts
00:42and researchers.
00:43Their goal?
00:44To find out a way to use AI to improve education across Africa.
00:49What about languages?
00:51AI is making sure that African languages are heard.
00:55The Center for Digitization of Indigenous African Languages, or the CDIAL, created a
01:02multilingual chatbot and a smart keyboard supporting 180 African languages.
01:08And there is more good news.
01:10AI is set to add about $1.5 trillion to Africa's GDP by 2030.
01:18Africa's AI future looks bright, but it's not without its challenges.
01:23Much of the technology still comes from global tech giants.
01:26Then there is the question of infrastructure.
01:29AI needs power and reliable internet.
01:32Things many African countries still struggle with.
01:35Moreover, let's face it, many AI models are trained on Western datasets, which don't
01:42always reflect Africa's diverse cultures, languages, or realities.
01:46The continent must invest more in building an AI industry with African data that serves
01:54the African people.
01:55Do you want to know more about AI?
01:57Then check out our reporting on the topic.