In February 2025, Paris will host the first AI Action Summit. The international event, co-organized by the French and Indian governments, will be held with the key participation of UNESCO. Technology giants, innovators and high-ranking state dignitaries will mark their presence at the forum. Africa, for its part, will occupy a central place in the discussions.

Africa’s place in the objectives of the AI Summit

In parallel with the international summit at the Grand Palais, UNESCO will organize a forum « Preparing AI for the world, preparing the world for AI ». This consultation will focus on ethical and sustainable AI for Africa. Public and private actors, academia and civil society are collaborating to adapt this technology to the needs of the continent. The common goal is to shape a future where AI supports development without compromising local identities.

The debate is structured around AI at the service of African societies and economies. The main theme is based on an ethical approach, aligned with the 2021 UNESCO Recommendation, which advocates respect for human rights. This meeting also highlights the urgency of reducing the digital divide.

Highlights of the event include:

• Presentation of « Preparing AI for the world, preparing the world for AI ». An overview of UNESCO’s actions, from the 2021 Recommendation to its impact on education, governance and climate resilience. Max Kendrick, AI Strategy Coordinator in the Office of the Director-General of UNESCO, moderates this conference.
• Priority Africa Fireside Chat, a discussion between Firmin Edouard Matoko, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Priority Africa, and Amani Abou-Zeid, Commissioner for the African Union. The topic is the Action Plan for the AU Continental Strategy on AI.
• Ministerial exchange. This is about feedback and perspectives on the development of AI, with ministers and experts from several countries. Tawfik Jelassi, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Communication and Information, moderates the exchanges.
• Panel on international cooperation in a changing landscape, with representatives from Thomson Reuters, Foundation J. McGovern, LG AI Research and AI & Society Institute.
• Announcement of the African AI Council, led by Smart Africa. This body, scheduled for April 2025 in Kigali, will bring together around forty States.

AI: a lever for development in Africa

AI offers concrete prospects for solving major challenges. In education, this technology overcomes the weaknesses of existing systems thanks to personalized tools. Assisted diagnostics improve access to care in remote areas. In agriculture, predictive models optimize yields in the face of climate challenges. Artificial intelligence also plays a key role in financial inclusion, while less than 50% of the African population has access to banking services.

Amani Abou-Zeid insists: « Africa cannot stand aside ». This AU official sees AI as a way to preserve crops while meeting pressing needs. This vision is based on the AU’s continental strategy, discussed during a session with Firmin Edouard Matoko.

Marked digital divide

Although representing 17% of the world’s population, Africa generates barely 1% of AI-related technologies. According to the Oxford Insights 2023 index, the sub-Saharan region remains the least equipped to exploit this innovation. This disparity is mainly due to a lack of infrastructure. Africa has less than 2% of data centers, Internet coverage remains low and expensive.

AI skills are lacking and talent often goes into exile. Tech start-ups, although promising, suffer from chronic underfunding. The brain drain deprives the continent of its best experts. Ghanaian analyst Bright Simon points out that only 5% of African talent has the resources needed to lead complex projects.

Technological advances despite the delay

A young and connected population makes Africa a fertile ecosystem for AI. Ubiquitous mobile services are paving the way. Successes are also emerging, like InstaDeep. This Tunisian start-up, acquired by BioNTech in 2023, is developing solutions against desert locusts, an agricultural scourge. In Ghana, mPedigree is fighting against counterfeit medicines using predictive models.

Several initiatives are strengthening the African technological landscape. UNESCO is training local talent, particularly young people and women entrepreneurs. Babacar Seck, from Askya Investment Partners, is calling for strategic partnerships. The first global AI summit on Africa, planned for Rwanda, is set to be a key step in realizing these ambitions.