A few years ago, AI seemed more like a futuristic concept, distant from daily life, especially in Africa. Fast-forward to now, and the world of artificial intelligence is no longer just for tech enthusiasts, it is everywhere.
From tools like ChatGPT and DALL·E to voice assistants and recommendation algorithms, AI is making its mark across African industries. What was once a buzzword has become a game-changer for sectors like healthcare, agriculture, finance, and education.
The impact of AI adoption in Africa cannot be overstated. According to the Centre of Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law, there are around 2,400 AI organizations on the continent, with 40% being startups. In South Africa, Africa’s largest economy, there has been a noticeable rise in AI-driven startups and projects focused on scaling solutions both locally and globally.
Speaking about the progress of AI, Ethan Bampeire, CEO of Neexai AI told Business Insider Africa “I think it is quite slow, honestly. But I think we are making progress. I think we are starting to see more progress here and there. I’ve seen several accelerators that are doing AI. I’ve also seen one by Olugbenga Agboola from Nigeria, the Flutterwave founder, who has an AI accelerator purely based on AI, and it is also focused on scaling globally. So I think the adoption is not so fast right now, but it’s getting better,” he said.
African countries with the highest number of AI organisations:
GITEX and the AI boom: Global investors are eyeing Africa’s tech landscape
Africa’s journey with AI may have started slowly, but the pace is picking up, and the future looks promising. As AI accelerators and investments continue to grow, the continent is positioning itself to be not just a participant but a leader in the global AI economy.
Investors are noticing, and with tech hubs sprouting across countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and Egypt, the landscape is rapidly changing. In May 2023, GITEX, the world’s largest tech show, made its debut in Africa, kicking off in Marrakech, Morocco, to open up new investment opportunities in the country and across the Maghreb region.
Now, GITEX is heading to Nigeria in 2025, with the Dubai World Trade Centre bringing global investors to explore opportunities in the booming Nigerian startup scene, the largest in Africa.
“For the startups that are in Nigeria, you will now have the opportunity to really have access to capital, to be able to benchmark and understand what the rest of the world is doing on an annual aggregated, large scale format. And this is very vital in the age of AI,” Trixie LohMirmand, the Executive Vice President of the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) stated during a breakfast meeting held by the Nigerian government at the GITEX Global in Dubai.
According to Trixie LohMirmand, many Nigerian startups and founders have been travelling to Dubai to meet investors, but only about 24 of them get the opportunity each year.
GITEX’s spread into new African markets signals more than just interest; it represents a growing belief that AI can be a cornerstone for Africa’s economic future. As the tools become more accessible and the knowledge base broadens, we’re likely to see AI play a transformative role in the region’s development, from leapfrogging tech solutions to empowering small businesses.
