Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s here, shaping industries and economies worldwide. In Africa, AI holds immense promise, offering solutions to some of the continent’s most pressing challenges.  

The numbers speak for themselves—Africa’s AI market is projected to reach $16.53 billion by 2030,  growing at an annual rate of 27.4.2%. Countries like Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa are already leveraging AI in fintech, e-health, and smart agriculture, proving its viability as a catalyst for economic growth. With Africa’s youthful population—over 60% of its people under 25—AI could also be a game-changer in upskilling the workforce, fostering entrepreneurship, and accelerating innovation across sectors. 

Yet, despite its potential, AI in Africa faces a fundamental dilemma: Will it bridge the digital divide or widen it further? Africa’s persistent infrastructure challenges—limited internet access, unreliable electricity, and inadequate data centers—pose a major barrier to AI adoption. With 60% of the continent’s population still offline despite mobile broadband coverage, AI could either be the great equalizer or an emerging risk that leaves millions further behind. 

So, can Africa harness AI to drive digital inclusion, or will it deepen inequalities? That’s the real question. So, where do we go from here?  

The Infrastructure Gap: The Elephant in the Room 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is often hailed as the great equalizer, capable of transforming industries and closing gaps in access to essential services. AI may be the future, but it is not a standalone solution. It needs a solid technological foundation—one that many African nations still lack. While Africa has made strides in digital innovation, the reality is that the continent is still battling fundamental infrastructure gaps that threaten to keep AI’s benefits out of reach for millions.  

Despite rapid advancements in mobile broadband expansion, a significant portion of Africa remains digitally disconnected. According to GSMA, while 83% of Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is covered by a mobile broadband network, only about 25% actually use mobile internet services. This leaves nearly 60% of people in covered areas offline. This is not just about access—it’s about usability, affordability, and the infrastructure needed to turn coverage into meaningful connectivity. 

At MWC 2025, we with Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa at GSMA, who put it bluntly: 

I think the role of AI is self-explanatory. It’s there. I mean, it’s how we can use emerging technology to adapt it to address the different challenges across the region. But I think the more important question today for the region is how we can address the barriers—particularly the infrastructure barriers—to the adoption of AI on the continent. Because AI will not work in isolation or out of a cloud. AI will work with the technology that is available on the continent. And so, when we start seeing the digital divide that already exists, the question is: Will AI drive further digital inclusion, or at the moment, does AI look more like an emerging risk to widening the digital divide?

– Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA

Is the System Ready for AI?  

Beyond connectivity, AI requires data centers, power supply, and high-speed connectivity—all of which are still fragile across much of the continent. 

Analysts estimate that Africa needs at least 700 data centers  by 2030 to meet digital demand, yet current investment is far below this target, with the continent having just a little over 100 data centers now. AI needs massive computing power (data centers and cloud services), but Africa accounts for less than 1% of the world’s data center capacity. 

“On the other hand, governments are still largely depending on data centers located in Europe, the US or Asia due to limited local infrastructure. This dependency present concerns in particular because of sovereignty and compliance with African regulations.”  

– Jules Hervé Yimeumi, President, Africa Data Protection (ADP)

Meanwhile, electricity and power supply remain unreliable, with over 600 million people in Africa still lacking access to power, accounting for 80 % of the global electricity access gap. AI, with its heavy reliance on energy-intensive data processing, makes it nearly impossible to run advanced AI applications at scale on the continent. 

Without reliable energy infrastructure and high-speed internet, AI’s impact will be slowed before it even takes off. The tools exist, but without the right foundation, Africa risks being locked out of the AI revolution. 

In essence, Africa isn’t just facing a digital divide—it’s on the brink of an AI divide. 

The Risk of a New Digital Divide 

If Africa’s infrastructure gaps remain unresolved, AI could become a tool that benefits the connected elite while leaving millions further behind. The continent already struggles with a deep digital divide—AI could either bridge it or widen it, depending on how it unfolds. 

Who Will Benefit? 

Right now, AI development in Africa is concentrated in urban tech hubs, well-funded startups, and government-backed innovation centers. These ecosystems have the necessary infrastructure—reliable internet, cloud computing, and access to data—to experiment with and deploy AI solutions. But outside these pockets of progress, a different reality exists. 

• Rural and low-income populations, who already struggle with internet access, will be the last to benefit from AI-driven innovations. 

• Women and marginalized groups, who are already underrepresented in the digital economy, could face further exclusion if AI-driven automation disrupts traditional jobs without offering new opportunities. 

• Small businesses that lack access to affordable AI tools could find themselves unable to compete with larger, AI-enabled corporations. 

The Need for Inclusive AI Development 

Beyond infrastructure, another major risk is content and accessibility. Many of today’s AI models are trained on Western-centric datasets, making them less effective in African contexts. If AI tools don’t support local languages, cultural nuances, and regional needs, they will remain irrelevant to large portions of the population. 

Over 2,000 languages are spoken across Africa, yet most AI models primarily function in English or French. Without localized AI, entire communities will be left out. Also, AI adoption requires a workforce that understands how to use and adapt these tools. But in many African countries, digital literacy rates are still low, particularly in rural areas and among older generations.  

At its core, AI should not just be something that happens to Africa—it should be something shaped by Africa. But for that to happen, AI development must be inclusive, context-aware, and driven by local needs.  

Unless we address the existing barriers—particularly infrastructure challenges on both the supply and demand sides of AI adoption—we risk being left behind. Our ability to contribute content and shape AI to understand and unlock solutions for our own needs depends on overcoming these obstacles.

– Angela Wamola, Head of Sub-Saharan Africa, GSMA

AI’s Future in Africa—Inclusion or Exclusion? 

AI is not a silver bullet; its success in Africa hinges on infrastructure, inclusivity, and strategic collaboration. Without reliable connectivity, local data centers, and stable power, AI’s potential will remain just that—potential. 

The first and most urgent priority is addressing the infrastructure deficit.  Governments and private sector players must prioritize building local data centers to reduce dependence on foreign cloud services. This will lower costs and improve efficiency for AI startups and researchers. Also, there is a need to strengthen energy infrastructure. Sustainable solutions, such as renewable energy-powered data centers, should be a priority. On the other hand, mobile internet usage, affordable data, accessible devices, and localized content are essential. 

For AI to truly benefit Africa, it must be inclusive, locally relevant, and ethically governed. AI is here to stay, but its impact in Africa will not be determined by hype or global trends—it will be shaped by the choices made today. If Africa builds an AI ecosystem that is rooted in local needs, driven by infrastructure investment, and focused on inclusivity, it can be a transformational force for good. But if infrastructure gaps and digital exclusion persist, AI will only widen the divides that already exist.  

Developing AI in African languages, investing in digital literacy, and shaping ethical policies are crucial to ensuring AI serves African communities, not just outside interests. AI’s future in Africa must be by Africa, for Africa.  

Meanwhile, no single entity can build Africa’s AI future alone. Governments, tech companies, investors, and local innovators must work together to drive AI adoption that is both sustainable and inclusive. Partnerships and cross-sector collaboration have never been more crucial. As African nations navigate digital transformation, cooperation between governments, private sector players, and innovators is key to bridging infrastructure gaps, expanding connectivity, and ensuring AI’s benefits reach everyone.  

We have been able to achieve a lot in our country’s digital transformation through partnerships, from the expansion of infrastructure to the implementation of innovative solutions and positioning us as a regional market leader in the digital economy.

– Paula Ingabire, Rwandan Minister of Information Communication Technology and Innovation

Initiatives and partnerships such as MTN Group and Ghana’s Ministry of Communications, Digital Technology, at MWC 2025 show are major steps towards collaboration that can drive AI development, digital skills, and data governance, ensuring broader inclusion in Africa’s tech future.  

We believe that African AI must be AI for Africa, by Africans, and from Africa. That means African AI engineers, African data scientists, and African cybersecurity experts must be the ones developing AI tools tailored to the continent’s unique nuances and challenges. To achieve this, we need to build local expertise, and that’s a key pillar of everything we are doing in Ghana.

– Hon. Samuel Nartey George, MP, Minister of Communications, Digital Technology, and Innovation, Ghana

The real challenge is not AI itself—it is whether Africa will build an AI revolution that serves all, or just a few. The time to act is now.