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

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
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"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