Dubai AI Week delegates: what we saw; also great new AI applications

Africa AI News weekly digest...

May 02, 2025

Good morning, and welcome to this week’s issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.

We interview Omi Oyama (AVA AI) from Nigerian delegation, and Ritesh Kanjee (Augmented AI) from the SA delegation so they could tell us what they saw (full interview, 2 minute read). They were both blown away by the event - the scale, the energy, the level of commitment of Dubai and UAE government to drive the creation on a major tech innovation centre driven by a rapid-growth startup-led economy.

There was a plaintive tone to Ritesh Kanjee’s interview … he described how startups in Dubai are given a sense of being wanted. This is not a nothing.

Ritesh expressed the sentiment that every startup founder has felt, every day of their working lives. The feeling of not being wanted. Of being an irritant to the money people.

Sure, the VCs and investors feign interest in startup pitches in the larger African markets. But anyone introducing their startup knows the feeling: investors, from angel to government incubators, are looking for reasons to say no. To cut ’em loose. Finding reasons to say no, not looking for reasons to say yes. Founders need someone to get behind them and believe in them - with moral support, and paying customers.

But while Dubai AI Week was inspiringly bonkers, one part risible, one part inspirational, life goes on for the AI technology community in Africa.

So on with this week’s issue!

/Roger

Applications

SA and UK develop One Food Risk Tool for safer supply chains

#SouthAfrica #applications #food #agri — SA’s Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), with the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in the UK, are working on the One Food Risk Tool. This analyses masses of public data around threats to food supply chains to guide decision-makers in government, farmers and producers to solve problems — such as the current whack-a-mole of combatting bird flu outbreaks. (CSIR)

Egypt to partner with Google to promote tourism with AI

#Egypt #applications #tourism — Egypt’s Minister of Tourism, Sherif Fathy, met with Google’s Country Director for Egypt, Hisham El Nazer, at the 2025 Arabian Travel Market in Dubai. They explored using digital tools like AI to highlight the country’s wide range of cultural, coastal, spiritual, and sports offerings to the global market. (Egypt State Information Service)

Coca-Cola launches $14.9M AI line in Malawi

#Malawi #applications #manufacturing – Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi has launched a $14.9M AI-powered production line in Lilongwe. Producing up to 19,200 bottles per hour, the facility boosts exports to Zambia, cuts costs, and builds digital skills as part of Coca-Cola’s local empowerment and innovation strategy. (Trendsnafrica)

NSITF to adopt AI for workplace safety in Nigeria

#Nigeri a#applications #safety — The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) has pledged to integrate AI and digital tools to improve health and safety standards. Announced during World Health and Safety Day, the initiative aligns with NSITF’s strategy to enhance prevention, protection, and productivity. (Tribune Online)

Mauritius explores AI to boost workplace safety

#Mauritius #applications #safety — The Government of Mauritius is encouraging public service leaders to adopt AI to build a safer, more accountable workplace. At a workshop marking World Day for Safety and Health at Work 2025, Minister Lutchmanah Pentiah outlined gradual AI integration as key to fostering a future-ready public workforce. (AllAfrica)

Education

University of Pretoria creates MultiChoice Chair in Machine Learning

#SouthAfrica #education — Satellite TV operator MultiChoice and the University of Pretoria have renewed their collaboration and research partnership, which began in 2018, with a new MultiChoice Chair in Machine Learning. The Chair is jointly located in the university’s School of Information Technology and the School of Engineering. Some applications being worked on:

Automated creation of and genre labelling of motion picture trailers with audio and video content analysis to extract meaningful and descriptive metadata
Automatically generate closed captions through automated audio processing
Audio and video segmentation for scene skipping
Forecasting weather-related impacts on DStv service delivery. (MyBroadband)

Morocco launches Jazari Institute for AI innovation

#Morocco #education — Morocco has unveiled the Jazari Institute, a new centre focused on applying artificial intelligence to sustainable development, to be set up in the Guelmim-Oued Noun province. The Jazari Institute is the third AI centre in Morocco following the Moroccan International Centre of Artificial Intelligence, and the Morocco Digital Centre for Sustainable Development (D4SD) announced recently. (University World News)

Outdated curricula block Ethiopia’s AI progress

#Ethiopia #education — Ethiopia’s university curricula, largely unchanged since the 1990s, are hindering efforts to develop AI skills, experts warned at the Huawei Education Summit 2025. Barriers include lack of infrastructure, trained instructors, and practical teaching. The government’s 2024 AI policy aims to transform this by 2035. (Capital Ethiopia)

Question AI’s role in education inequality

#SouthAfrica #education — An analysis by Dr Sefoko Ramoshaba published this month examines the long term policy challenge of the integration of AI in South Africa’s education system (but apposite for most African countries), where it is likely to drive greater inequality. While affluent schools embrace AI, historically black schools, particularly in rural areas, lack the resources to provide modern technologies. The government and big business must invest in bridging this gap. (Central News)

Policy

Nigeria to modernise 2003 communications law for AI and 5G era

#Nigeria #policy #law — Nigeria is set to revise its 2003 Communications Act to address emerging technologies like AI, 5G, quantum computing and blockchain. With mobile subscriptions now exceeding 150 million and digital services contributing 14% to GDP, the update aims to close regulatory gaps and strengthen cybersecurity. (News Central)

Local data centres key to Africa’s AI revolution

#Africa #policy #infrastructure — Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the United Nations University and UN Under-Secretary-General, issues an unequivocal call in a Forbes op-ed this month for African countries to invest in local data centres. Local processing brings improved latency, digital sovereignty and security, lowers costs and wider access, gives resilience against global shocks, and supports local jobs, skills and innovation. (Forbes Africa)

Kenya targets Dubai AI job market for graduates

#Kenya #policy #jobs — Kenya is linking Data Science and AI graduates with job opportunities in Dubai through partnerships with Destino Dubai and the European Business Institute. Plans include a formal placement framework, talent preparation programmes, and a central applicant database to tap into Dubai’s fast-growing digital economy. (TV47)

Zambia warns of AI risks to press freedom

#Zambia #policy #media – The Ministry of Information and Media has called on journalists to use AI responsibly to protect press freedom. Speaking at a Lusaka conference, officials warned that misuse of AI could spread misinformation and foster surveillance, urging media houses to adopt ethics guidelines. (Zambia Monitor)

Tanzania PM: AI to support, not hinder, media

#Tanzania #policy #media — A more progressive tone from Tanzania’s government as it drafts an AI policy tailored to media. Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa highlighting the balance needed between innovation and journalistic ethics. He encouraged journalists to harness AI to enhance reporting rather than threaten press freedom. (Daily News)

[ This newsletter was human conceived and AI gestated ]