What is the future of Artificial Intelligence in Africa?
When this question is entered into AI platform ChatGPT, it responds that it “has enormous potential for transformative impact in various sectors”, especially in health, agriculture and education.
Human experts tend to agree, and AI is fast becoming the final frontier in US-China competition on the continent.
“To advance AI research and innovation, African countries will need significant investment in computing infrastructure,” said Chinasa T. Okolo, a fellow at the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution. “The US and China could potentially be good partners to help with such initiatives.”
In the coming years, researchers predict AI companies will run out of data in English and Western languages, but that’s not the case in Africa where even more data is needed, Okolo said.
“So by investing in Africa, companies from AI superpowers like the US and China stand to gain valuable data that they could use to build services and systems that will be sold back to African countries,” he said.
Drive AI of South Africa
One country on the continent that is rapidly pursuing artificial intelligence is South Africa.
At a government summit on artificial intelligence in April, Mondli Gungubele, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, said: “The era of genetic artificial intelligence is just beginning and as a country and a continent we cannot and must not allow ourselves to be left behind back. .”
South Africa has already established the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa, or AIISA, and is opening “hubs” at universities across the country. It was created to ensure that the country’s industries and sectors benefit from artificial intelligence, said Hitekani Magwedze, a spokesman for the Ministry of Communications and Digital Technologies.
“Through AIISA, we have now created artificial intelligence hubs in manufacturing and services, agriculture and farming, automotive and transportation, as well as military and defense,” with more sectors planned, Magwedze told VOA.
“South Africa has global partnerships with major countries such as the US and China within the G20 and BRICS,” he said. “These leading countries see South Africa as a gateway to Africa and the developing world agenda.”
Magewedze said AI can help with unemployment, inequality and poverty in the country.
In May, Tshwane University of Technology will launch a new AI Career Technology Centre in collaboration with the American technology giant Intel.
“Artificial intelligence hubs across the country are collaborating with strong partners from the international community to achieve the goals of the AI institutes,” said Anish Kurien, Deputy Director of the university’s AIISA hub.
Earlier this month, South Africa’s Ministry of Defense launched an artificial intelligence research unit at the country’s military academy.
“There is a need for African solutions to African challenges and artificial intelligence is a technology that enables [Fourth Industrial Revolution] that will play a role in solving many of the social issues facing our beloved continent,” Wayne Dalton, deputy director of the new research unit, told VOA.
When asked about US-China involvement, Dalton said, “South Africa’s AI strategy and goals are in their infancy,” but “there will be many opportunities for the US and China to help us achieve these targets”.
The increased focus on artificial intelligence in South Africa comes at a time when public opinion has risen for China and fallen slightly for the US, according to a new Gallup report published in April.
Public opinion trends may not necessarily apply to cooperation on the AI front, and African nations will work with parties that can provide the most value, Okolo said.
“While the US government has provided significant aid to African countries, China has taken a different approach, spearheading infrastructure investment, which will become increasingly important as African countries aim to strengthen their telecommunications and data infrastructures,” he said. .
China and US interest
The US has already invested in artificial intelligence in Africa. Silicon Valley giant Google opened its first artificial intelligence lab in Ghana, while IBM has research facilities in Kenya and South Africa.
At a US Chamber of Commerce Business Summit in Nairobi last month, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced a partnership to allow US companies to invest in artificial intelligence and data centers in Kenya.
Lisa Walker, managing director for Africa operations at Prosper Africa, a US government trade initiative, told VOA that the agency is promoting partnerships as part of US President Joe Biden’s Digital Transformation strategy with Africa.
“Prosper Africa launched the Africa Tech for Trade Alliance in April last year. Today, there are 24 private sector partners under this Alliance, including industry leaders such as Google, AWS, Intel, Cisco Systems, Visa, Mastercard , PayPal, UPS, DHL, FedEx and others,” he said.
China has also shown interest in artificial intelligence in Africa. For over a decade, China has been investing in the continent’s internet infrastructure and connectivity through President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative.
In April, a China-Africa Internet Development and Cooperation Forum was held in China’s southeastern coastal city of Xiamen and was attended by representatives from about 20 African countries.
“Africa is an important participant in scientific and technological progress. The development and application of artificial intelligence is of great importance to developing countries, including China and African countries,” Liu Pengyu, a representative of the Chinese Embassy in Washington.
Regarding the US-China competition in artificial intelligence, Liu said: “China is willing to carry out communication, exchanges and practical cooperation with all parties, including Africa and the United States, on the global governance of artificial intelligence to to ensure that artificial intelligence is always developed in the direction of human civilization and progress.”
During their meeting in San Francisco last year and a recent phone call, Liu said, the Chinese and US leaders agreed to promote cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence. Liu added that the two sides will soon hold the first intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence.
Prosper Africa’s Walker took a different view when asked about the US-China rivalry, saying US companies have “unparalleled brand value”.
“It’s a focus on mutual growth, local job creation and shared prosperity that continues to set American technology companies apart from international competitors,” he said.
However, Brookings Institution fellow Okolo is more pessimistic about US-China engagement in Africa.
“While I’ve seen growing interest in Africa from the US and China, I think it’s honestly hard to say how well these countries are interested in specifically working with African countries to advance AI innovation,” Okolo said. “While American and Chinese researchers often collaborate with each other in academic AI research, these countries themselves are competing to be leaders in the ‘artificial intelligence race’.”
According to the recently published AI index report from Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, the US was the top source of top computer programs known as artificial intelligence models last year, with 61 compared to China’s 15. However, it found that China led the world in AI patents with 61.1%, while the US accounted for only 20%.