Reference List – AI in Africa

A reference list focusing on AI developments, challenges, and governance in Africa.

Published Oct 12, 2024

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Investigation by

Ram

Jonas

AI in Africa

Reference List

The term "AI" (Artificial Intelligence) refers to the simulation of human intelligence by machines, a field rapidly evolving in Africa with unique opportunities and challenges.

Landry Signé - AI is a phenomenal tool to address some of the continent’s most complex challenges.

This reference list compiles key resources on AI in Africa, covering its applications, policy frameworks, and socio-economic impacts. It aims to provide a foundation for understanding how AI is shaping the continent and the critical issues surrounding its adoption.

AI Applications and Innovations in Africa

• "Making Artificial Intelligence Safe in Africa"
  Africa Renewal, United Nations, November 20, 2024.
  https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine/november-2024/making-artificial-intelligence-safe-africa
  Highlights AI’s potential in Africa, such as the Flood Hub app developed in Ghana, alongside calls for safety and inclusion from experts like Philip Thigo.

• "Better Data Sets Won’t Solve the Problem — We Need AI for Africa to be Developed in Africa"
  Nature, December 10, 2024.
  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-04081-8
  Argues for localized AI development in Africa, focusing on the underperformance of global language models in African languages.

• "Why AI Might Be a Game-Changer for Africa"
  Nature, September 17, 2024.
  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-02977-x
  Showcases African researchers using AI for bespoke solutions in health, development, and education, emphasizing the need for inclusive policies.

• "Leveraging AI and Emerging Technologies to Unlock Africa’s Potential"
  Brookings Institution, January 13, 2025.
  https://www.brookings.edu/articles/leveraging-ai-and-emerging-technologies-to-unlock-africas-potential/
  Explores how AI can catalyze development outcomes in Africa, with examples like Togo’s cash transfer program and Zambia’s election fact-checking tool.

AI Policy and Governance in Africa

• "Africa’s Push to Regulate AI Starts Now"
  MIT Technology Review, March 15, 2024.
  https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/03/15/1089847/africa-ai-regulation-policy-digital-infrastructure/
  _Discusses the African Union’s Continental