Why Africa Must Define Its Own AI future

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly reshaping industries, economies, and governance worldwide. For Africa, however, the conversation must extend beyond mere adoption; it should focus on developing a sovereign AI ecosystem that addresses the continent’s unique needs. In a recent interview, Ambassador Philip Thigo, Technology Policy Expert and Kenya’s Special Envoy on Technology explained why Africa needs a deliberate, intentional, and inclusive approach to building its own sovereign AI future.

AI in the African Context

Thigo emphasizes that AI should not be viewed as a one-size-fits-all solution imported from the West or East. Instead, Africa must carve out a safe, secure, inclusive, and sustainable digital future by establishing sovereignty over its technology. While AI holds immense potential for economic growth and improved governance, it also raises concerns about inclusivity, accessibility, and control over essential value chains, whether data or minerals.

“If Africa does not define its own AI future, others will, and they are already trying to define it for us,” Thigo warns. He argues that the continent must cultivate an environment that prioritizes public-interest AI, data sovereignty, and scalable local innovation. Without such an approach, AI could widen existing inequalities rather than bridge them.

Governance of AI

One of Thigo’s primary concerns is the fragmented state of AI governance. Despite agreements like the Global Digital Compact reached at the UN General Assembly, geopolitical divisions continue to emerge, creating an East-West divide. While AI can enhance government efficiency and transparency, unregulated AI also risks reinforcing biases, enabling mass surveillance, or fueling misinformation campaigns.

“Governments need to be proactive rather than reactive in regulating AI,” he advises. Thigo calls for policies that strike a balance by focusing on AI’s opportunities from the outset rather than solely emphasizing safety and security. Public trust in AI can only be built through real-world use cases and applications and not from fear. Kenya’s early adoption of digital government services, including the creation of regulatory sandboxes, offers a promising model for achieving this balance.

AI and Digital Inclusion

Thigo also highlights AI’s impact on digital inclusion. For AI to truly drive development, it must be accessible to everyone – not just developed nations, large corporations, or urban elites. This means investing across the entire AI value chain: nurturing local talent, ensuring linguistic diversity in AI models, and creating technology that serves marginalized communities.

He cites examples such as AI applications in agriculture, which help farmers predict weather patterns, and in financial services, which expand access to credit. However, if foreign companies dominate AI, Africa risks being reduced to a consumer of AI products rather than a driver of innovation, thereby limiting its social and economic benefits.

Data Sovereignty, Collaboration, and Collective Solidarity

A key part of Thigo’s message is the importance of data sovereignty in achieving a truly sovereign AI future. Africa must harness its own data instead of outsourcing it for extraction and monetization by foreign tech giants.

“African data should be utilized to benefit Africans,” he states. Building on this principle, Africa should pursue a model of sovereign AI by collaborating on data, compute, and talent. By sharing knowledge on AI use cases, the continent can transcend traditional country divides and embrace collective solidarity because no single country can go it alone. Such collaboration will not only protect Africa’s digital assets but also create an ecosystem where innovation thrives through shared expertise and resources.

Final Thoughts

Thigo’s message is clear: Africa cannot afford to sit on the sidelines of the AI revolution or allow itself to be marginalized in the current wave of AI development and governance. A whole-of-society approach is needed; AI is not just an ICT issue but a general-purpose technology that requires the active participation of experts from all sectors.

If Africa shapes the future of AI on its own terms, it can drive economic development, enhance governance, and improve lives in ways that previous generations could only imagine. There has never been a greater opportunity for the continent to leverage technology for development than in the current age of AI.

For Thigo, the choice is clear: Africa must define its own sovereign AI destiny through innovation and collaborative solidarity before it is defined by others.