AI Everything Summit Highlights Global AI Collaboration And Public Interest

At the recently concluded AI Everything Global Tech Summit in Abu Dhabi, one resounding theme emerged: AI must serve the public interest. Unlike past AI gatherings that largely centred on technical advancements or corporate competition, this summit marked a shift toward meaningful global collaboration. Policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers gathered not just to discuss AI’s potential but to align on ensuring its benefits reach all corners of society.

One of the most important takeaways from the Summit is the need for strong, equitable multi-stakeholder partnerships. The synergy between governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society will determine the success of AI development, adoption, and use. No single entity, public or private, can address the challenges and opportunities AI presents alone. Collective action is essential to ensure that AI’s benefits are distributed equitably, avoiding monopolistic control and exploitation.

Collaborations between governments and companies should not merely focus on exporting AI to the Global South but should empower innovators in lower-income countries to build AI solutions that address local and global challenges alike. If AI is to be a force for good, it must be inclusive, equitable, and responsive to the real needs of societies.

For Africa, this shift in focus is critical. Too often, discussions around AI in the Global South are framed in terms of “capacity building,” implying that our primary challenge is a lack of skills and that capacity is built by external actors. This is a misdiagnosis and assumes that the continent does not have the expertise in these novel technologies.

Africa’s young innovators, data scientists, and engineers have proven their technical expertise time and again with life-changing transformational technologies, whether in mobile money or geospatial solutions for agriculture and disaster/crisis response. The real bottleneck is access and excellence: the ability to train and retain talent (brain drain), access to high-quality data, access to computational resources, and access to real-world problem-solving opportunities that must be backed by affordable capital.

Take for instance Zindi, a platform that connects African data scientists with real-world challenges. Rather than limiting AI development to theoretical capacity-building workshops, Zindi offers tangible problem-solving experiences that drive innovation. By working with companies and organizations on pressing issues such as optimizing supply chains, predicting climate risks, or improving healthcare outcomes, Zindi equips African developers with the tools and exposure they need to build solutions at scale.

This is the type of AI development Africa needs: one that is rooted in practical application that solves a real-world challenge right now, rather than abstract training programs. At this week’s summit, I engaged with policymakers and industry leaders who recognize that AI is no longer just a competitive advantage for corporations. It is a collective global asset that must be shared and leveraged responsibly to unlock opportunity while solving problems and creating shared values for everyone in the value chain.

The global AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and the global majority must not be left behind. Governments across Africa must prioritize policies that encourage AI development within the continent rather than relying on imported technologies that may not always align with local contexts. Africa’s AI journey must be about co-creation rather than consumption, as AI solutions that emerge from within African communities are more likely to be ethical, relevant, and impactful.

Moreover, AI ethics must be a fundamental pillar in shaping policy. The use of AI in public governance, finance, agriculture, and healthcare must be transparent, equitable, and accountable. AI-driven decisions, particularly those that affect millions, should be explainable, fair, open to scrutiny, and in most cases, include a human in the loop. This summit has illustrated the urgency of ensuring AI governance, not regulations at the first instance, will enable us to keep pace with its technological advancements, ensuring that guardrails are in place to mitigate against adverse risks.

Another crucial aspect of AI’s impact is its role in economic growth. AI-driven automation and digital transformation have already reshaped industries worldwide, and Africa must position itself to leverage these shifts rather than be disrupted by them. This also means that our development trajectory can be less resource-intensive as AI can drive efficiencies.

AI is driving efficiencies in manufacturing, streamlining financial services, and even transforming the creative economy by enabling new forms of content generation and digital artistry. The challenge is ensuring that AI-driven economic growth does not come at the cost of jobs and livelihoods but rather complements human labour by improving productivity and creating new opportunities. This means that the workforce must be prepared for disruptions while at the same time being enabled to take up the new opportunities created by the AI economy.

The continent will need to be deliberate and intentional in investing in AI infrastructure that accelerates local innovation. This includes reliable electricity, talent, fast and affordable internet, cloud computing resources, accessible datasets, and AI research labs dedicated to solving uniquely African challenges. Countries that fail to invest in AI infrastructure risk widening the opportunity divide, making it even harder to compete in the global economy as AI affects all aspects of life.

AI’s potential in addressing climate change is another area that cannot be ignored. With Africa facing some of the worst consequences of climate change, AI-driven solutions in climate modelling, smart agriculture, and energy efficiency can be game-changers. Governments should work with researchers and AI developers to create solutions that enhance climate resilience and sustainability efforts across the continent.

*Philip Thigo is Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology