You said that this Transforming Africa Summit is historic for several reasons. why?
The purpose of this 7th edition is Artificial Intelligence for Africa to innovate locally and impact the world. That’s why we’re here.
This is very historical. Not only for artificial intelligence, but also because today we are meeting for the first time in the history of the Smart Africa and Transformation Africa Summit in a French-speaking country in West Africa. Last year, towards 2024, we started working on the topic of artificial intelligence.
Why does Africa need to develop indigenous AI and how can this goal be achieved?
We believe it is essential to remain highly critical and precise in our approach. The AI we seek is not just a power technology, but a tool that can be used in daily life. Artificial intelligence is the equalizer. Everyone will be able to actively participate in economic and social development, even if they are rural or illiterate.
Nowadays, just having a college degree is not enough. If you don’t know how to use technology, you’ll become digitally deaf. Even if you have a degree in literature, you’re a little helpless if you can’t master AI. We train large-scale language models (LLMs) in African languages (Arabic, Berber, Wolof, French, and English) to reach these segments of the population. This allows people who previously did not have access to the internet or school to participate in socio-economic development.
What are the main challenges to achieving this and how does Smart Africa plan to address them?
Artificial intelligence is considered a revolution, and that’s true. But in the African context, it is above all the evolution of digital systems. The foundation of AI is infrastructure, computing power, data governance, people, and capacity building. Smart Africa has long been committed to these foundations. AI simply accelerates our goals to strengthen our infrastructure, develop our talent, and build African datasets to preserve our cultures, values, and languages.
AI inclusion in Africa is different from other countries. It’s about integrating those who already have access to technology, but also providing tools to people in remote, rural, or illiterate areas. It is a lever to reduce inequality and create tangible impact on the ground.
Established in 2013 and run by the seven founding Heads of State since 2016, Smart Africa currently brings together 42 member states and covers approximately 1.2 billion Africans. Our funding has more than tripled and we are coordinating around 18-19 continental projects on emerging technologies. We launched the Smart Africa Digital Academy, the Rooming Free network, and introduced a continental cybersecurity structure with an annual conference in Morocco. Smart Africa is no longer just a consultative alliance. It is a governing body that specifically advances the continent’s digital goals.
What lessons can we take away from this edition focused on AI in Africa?
AI is a catalyst. This draws attention to the need for robust infrastructure, skilled human resources, and African datasets. This strengthens governance and enables the creation of solutions adapted to local realities. This ranges from education, where remote students can receive personalized feedback, to health, where AI can detect abnormalities before medical diagnosis. The opportunities are immense, and we need to cultivate a generation that can create, not just consume, tomorrow’s AI.
What will the next Smart Africa version look like?
The next edition in 2026 is already in preparation. We will continue to follow this ambitious trajectory. Details will be announced soon.
