The Executive Council of the African Union (AU) publicly agreed to the “Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy.” A lot of work is being put into getting the continent’s public and business sectors to use artificial intelligence (AI).
The 45th Ordinary Session of the council, which took place in Accra, Ghana, from July 18th to July 19th, 2024, officially accepted the plan. It is a significant advance toward using AI to help Africa grow and make people’s lives better.
The plan is explained in a document that was released on the AU website on August 9. It has a lot of useful ideas to help member states use AI more easily. Make sure your hardware and software are set up in a way that works well with AI and machine learning jobs. The point of this setting is to help make data processing and AI use more efficient in many areas.
AU’s Comprehensive AI Strategy
Along with encouraging people to use AI, the plan stresses how important it is to set up strong systems for managing AI. The goal of these systems is to use AI in important areas mentioned in Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.
The plan also aims to encourage the use of AI in the private sector, supporting the growth of AI startups and making sure that there are enough high-quality data sets to fuel innovation.
The plan puts a lot of weight on developing AI skills, doing research, and coming up with new ideas. It also puts a lot of weight on ethical AI principles that respect African culture and values. The plan also wants to set technical standards for AI safety and security, speed up investment in AI, improve cooperation in the region, and get more Africans involved in running AI around the world.
There will be two parts of the Continental AI Strategy over the next five years, from 2025 to 2030. From 2025 to 2026, the first part will focus on laying the groundwork by making national AI strategies, governance frameworks, and bringing in resources. It will also focus on building up the abilities of the AU, regional economic communities, specialized agencies, and member states. The second part, which runs from 2027 to 2030, will be all about carrying out the strategy’s main projects and plans.
There are only six African countries that have made their own AI plans as of July 2024. They are Algeria, Benin, Egypt, Mauritius, Rwanda, and Senegal. Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda, on the other hand, are using AI along with new technologies like blockchain. Kenya, Mauritania, South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda have also put in a lot of work to set up AI laws and groups that will help AI grow.
