Microsoft Corp. has stepped up its investment in Africa’s digital ecosystem as part of its broader strategy to expand artificial intelligence adoption across emerging markets, even as Chinese technology firms quietly move to capture a significant share of the continent’s AI potential.
The US technology giant plans to train three million Africans in AI skills by 2026. The initiative is being led by the company’s Middle East and Africa president, Naim Yazbeck, who said the goal is to make AI literacy widely accessible regardless of cost, according to Bloomberg.
The US technology company plans to train three million Africans in AI skills by 2026. The initiative is being led by Naim Yazbeck, Microsoft’s president for the Middle East and Africa, who said the aim is to make AI literacy widely accessible regardless of cost, according to Bloomberg.
Microsoft has also partnered with MTN Group Ltd., Africa’s largest telecommunications provider, to roll out Microsoft 365 and its AI assistant Copilot to roughly 300 million MTN subscribers across the continent.
The collaboration is intended to expand access to AI tools for businesses and institutions while strengthening Microsoft’s presence in one of the world’s fastest-growing technology markets.
The company is also investing in digital infrastructure across the region. Microsoft has committed 5.4 billion rand (about $330 million) to expand cloud and AI capabilities in South Africa by 2027.
In Kenya, the company is developing a geothermal-powered data centre designed to support sustainable computing operations.
China’s DeepSeek gains traction in African markets
Alternatively, Chinese AI models such as DeepSeek are gaining traction in several African markets, largely due to their affordability and accessibility for developers.
According to data cited by Bloomberg, DeepSeek accounts for between 11 percent and 14 percent of chatbot usage across Africa, with adoption rising to about 20 percent in Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and growing influence among users in Nigeria.
China’s expanding technological presence builds on its long-standing engagement on the continent through the Belt and Road Initiative, which has financed fibre networks, telecommunications infrastructure and data centres across several African countries.
“China has done very, very well in Africa thanks to Belt and Road, and it also has practically a monopoly on the handset market in Africa,” Danny Crichton, a fellow at the Manhattan Institute, told the South China Morning Post.
Chinese technology firms have also benefited from strong demand for low-cost smartphones and open-source AI platforms that can operate without relying heavily on US-based internet systems.
Infrastructure, partnerships and talent become key battlegrounds
Consequently, several US technology companies are expanding their presence through partnerships with African governments and private companies.
In January, the Gates Foundation and OpenAI launched a $50 million partnership aimed at helping African countries deploy artificial intelligence to strengthen healthcare systems.
A month later, US artificial intelligence company Anthropic signed a three-year memorandum of understanding with the Rwandan government to integrate AI into the country’s education, healthcare and public-sector systems.
Google has also expanded its support for African languages, working with universities and research institutions to launch WAXAL, an open dataset designed to advance African speech technology.
At the same time, investment in digital infrastructure is accelerating. Nvidia and Cassava Technologies are developing AI-ready data centres across Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya and Morocco, with total investments estimated at about $700 million.
Africa moves to the centre of the global AI race
Latest reports show that by 2050, one in four people in the world will be African, positioning the continent as one of the largest emerging digital frontiers.
“There is really a lot of appetite for new technology, and there are reports showing that Africans are extremely tech-savvy,” said Alice Chen, a former fellow at Georgetown University’s Tech & Society initiative.
The rising wave of investment highlights Africa’s growing importance in the global race for technological leadership, with both Western and Chinese firms seeking to shape the continent’s AI future.
