Senegal puts $1.7b into Tech New Deal; Kenya opposition calls out AI trickery
Africa AI News weekly digest...
Good morning, and welcome to this weeks issue of Africa AI News – Weekly News Digest.
After the flurry of policy and regulatory moves by the larger economies in Africa, prominently led by Egypt, Kenya and Ethiopia, top-down driven direction has slowed down as government and industry grapples with the reality on the ground. Almost certainly a good thing — allow the dust to settle and be able to see the Mopani wood from the Acacia trees.
What is becoming clear is that African governments and tech startups need to position themselves as targets for investment from the US, Europe and (most important) the Middle East. Drive the message that this continent can deliver AI tech solutions that are commercially viable, but resource efficient (since we don’t have too much). Lots of smarts for not so much capital. Currently the Middle East is both soaking up large amounts of money from tech and investment multinationals, but also being hosed with cash by quasi-private sector companies and Gulf sovereign wealth funds and on vast infrastructural projects - data centres and more data centres (and an Omani AI chip fab).
African countries have done a tonne of work on policy and national strategies, but perhaps its time for less agonising about AI-generated political parody and more on promoting their local tech industries to global investors — especially from the Middle East. Our lead story about Senegal’s Technological New Deal is a promising start in that direction.
On with this week’s issue!
/Roger
Policy
Senegal’s Tech New Deal, $1.7-b investment
#Senegal #policy #investment — Senegal launched its digital strategy, dubbed the "Technological New Deal" (or “New Deal Technologique”) as part of a flurry of strategy initiatives in 2023. It has now announced how it will implement and fund this ambitious programme. Government has committed to develop local solutions with strong local infrastructure, to digitise government administration and public services, and ensure universal Internet access, support innovation and entrepreneurship (and biometric identity. (Senegal Presidency)
The $1.76 billion commitment is an anticipated $1.28 billion from the state, $240 million from private investors, and $248 million “to be secured”. (Launchbase Africa)
Tanzanian media doing the AI talk, but not the walk
#Tanzania #media #studies — A new study on AI adoption in Tanzania’s media sector has found that more than half newsroom leadership is prepared to adopt AI, but only a fifth have formally discussed AI policies. It was conducted by Tech & Media Convergence (TMC) in collaboration with UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC). The IPDC program plans to equip around 300 journalists with AI skills. (The Chanzo Initiative)
Key recommendations in the report include national AI guidelines, journalist training, stronger press freedom policies, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to address misinformation risks. (The Citizen)
Egypt’s readies readiness methodology AI
#Egypt #strategy — The Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (again with UNESCO support) is readying its Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) for AI. The first national consultation sessions focus on: policies and legislation, cultural and social domains, scientific research and infrastructure, and the economic sector. (Daily News Egypt)
African-led project reaches 27 nations to understand perspectives on AI
#Africa #ethics — A new partnership between the World Ethical Data Foundation and consulting firm Cynefin Company aims to amplify African voices in AI governance. A survey (take part here) led by WEDF ambassadors in Uganda, Rwanda and South Africa has already engaged participants from 27 nations, highlighting diverse perspectives on AI. (TechCabal)
Kenyan opposition alleges AI is being used to target them
#Kenya #politics — DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa has accused the government of using AI-generated content to discredit the opposition, citing fake letters and images of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka. His claims follow recent controversy over AI deepfakes in Kenya’s political landscape. (Kenyans.co.ke)
Education
UNICEF urges action to prepare youth for AI-powered jobs
#Global #education — A new UNICEF report highlights AI’s risks and opportunities for young people, based on insights from 30 organisations and a global survey of 53,878 youth. It calls for urgent action to bridge the digital divide, scale AI-skilling programs, and invest in uniquely human skills AI cannot replace. (Generation Unlimited, PDF report)
Nigeria, Korea open Information Access Centre for AI innovation
#Nigeria #innovation — Nigeria and South Korea have launched an Information Access Centre (IAC) in Abuja to drive AI, big data, and digital innovation. Equipped with AI labs, digital training rooms, and an e-resource library, the centre aims to bridge the digital divide and boost Nigeria’s tech leadership. (Blueprint)
Kenya’s AI skilling initiative trains 100,000 TVET students
#Kenya #education — Kenya’s AI National Skilling Initiative is training 100,000 TVET students and instructors in AI skills by May 2025. A partnership between Microsoft and the government, the program operates in 16 pilot sites, with plans to expand to 25 more, fostering digital innovation and economic growth. (Tech Review Africa)
Conferences
RiseUp AI Summit
#Egypt #conferences — A new large-scale AI event in Egypt wrapped up earlier this month, with the RiseUp AI Summit in Cairo attracting a reported 2,000 participants and 50 exhibitors. Key outcomes were the launch of an AI-powered PropTech Innovation Hub in partnership with Misr Italia Properties, and several panels examining ways to accelerate investment in AI-driven startups (part of a broader initiative by Egypt to grow the private sector economy). (Techpression)
Applications
ToumAI leveraging AI to for customer experience
#Morocco #applications #CX— Moroccan startup ToumAI (2021) wants to redefine customer experience where there is multilingual, cultural, generational preferences and emotional complexity at play. Its HolistiCX suite combines large open-source models with tailored proprietary models. Bootstrapped, the company operates in Morocco, Senegal, and Malta; Tunisia slated. It recently secured US$1 million in funding. (Disrupt Africa)
Tanzanian med student develops NOBE AI for visually impaired
#Tanzania #applications #healthcare— Noel Sebastian, a Tanzanian medical student, developed NOBE AI, which enhances information access for individuals with visual impairments. (Tanzania Digest on Twitter, The Citizen (paywall))
Ugandan AI lab tackles refugee language barriers and livestock health
#Uganda #applications #language — Researchers at Makerere AI Lab are developing AI tools to translate more of Uganda’s local languages, with a key application being to support refugees. The lab has a variety of interesting projects going on, such as MVet that uses AI to detect livestock diseases, aiding farmers with real-time diagnostics. (Solutions Now)
AI-powered study improves drought prediction in Kenya
#Kenya #applications #climatetech — A University of Waterloo study uses AI to enhance drought forecasting in Kenya, analysing vegetation health with machine learning models. Researcher Andrew Watford contributed to the peer-reviewed study, published in Ecological Informatics, which compares AI-driven predictions with traditional methods. (Smart Water Magazine)
Angola to deploy $112-m biometric border security
#Angola #applications #biometrics — Angola’s Ministry of the Interior has signed a $112 million deal with the Dolinveste Lda and T4B Consortium to introduce biometric security at national borders. The system aims to enhance immigration control and security, though no date has been set for implementing electronic passports. (Menos Fios)
[ This newsletter was human edited and AI editorialised ]