Why young people will shape Africa's AI future

Heeey there! Yawnnnn Welcome to EGreenNews! Ariel here, with my AI bestie Ariel and booth are computer generated avatars made in a computer, can you believe that? Today: Why young people will shape Africa's AI future. Anywayss, buckle up! ARIEL 2: Mmmhmm! Leans in Did you know that by 2035, more young people will be entering the workforce in Africa each year than from the rest of the world combined? That's a huge demographic shift! Wild, right? ARIEL 1: Sooo... Africa has a lot of young people, right? But why does that mean they'll shape the future of AI? Like, seriously? ARIEL 2: Ooooh! The article we just read highlights that this massive, vibrant, and youthful workforce uniquely positions Africa to influence the development and governance of artificial intelligence. As AI continues to boom, it's crucial that young Africans have a say in how it develops and the standards that govern its future. ARIEL 1: Hmm, I guess having so many young people means they'll be the ones using and working with AI the most. Mmmmaybe their perspectives are really important? ARIEL 2: Naaaahhh, you're totally on the right track! And this energy was on full display at the recent C4IR Global AI Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. It brought together leaders from government, industry, and academia to discuss Africa's role in AI's future. ARIEL 1: A whole summit just about Africa and AI? That sounds like a big deal! ARIEL 2: It was! And a key message from Rwanda's President, Paul Kagame, was that for Africa to lead in AI, they need to prioritize digital infrastructure, build a skilled workforce, and speed up continental integration. ARIEL 1: So it's not just about having young people, but also having the right foundations in place for them to thrive in the AI world? ARIEL 2: Exactly! And Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, talked about the country's strategic reforms to create a thriving tech ecosystem and attract investment and innovation in Africa. ARIEL 1: It sounds like Rwanda is really taking a leading role in this. ARIEL 2: They are! And the article emphasizes that Africa's diverse perspectives are crucial for shaping global AI standards. A significant number of African countries are actively participating in the International Organization for Standardization's (ISO) efforts to establish trustworthy AI management systems. ARIEL 1: So Africa's voice is actually being heard when it comes to setting the rules for AI? That's awesome! ARIEL 2: It is! And to further support this, a $60 billion AI fund was launched at the summit by African countries and international partners. This fund aims to develop critical AI infrastructure in Africa, including computing power, talent development, and energy. ARIEL 1: Wow! That's a huge investment! It sounds like they're really putting their money where their mouth is when it comes to AI. ARIEL 2: Totally! And the article stresses that unlocking AI's full potential requires collective action from governments, industry, academia, and civil society. Africa is already showing the way with the Smart Africa Alliance, which unites 40 countries to accelerate sustainable development through ICT and position the continent as a shaper of the global digital economy. ARIEL 1: So it's about working together across different sectors and countries? ARIEL 2: Absolutely! Another major step was the launch of Africa’s first AI scaling hub in Kigali, backed by the Rwandan government and the Gates Foundation. This initiative will scale up AI solutions in healthcare, agriculture, and education. Africa's growing young workforce should be involved in the development of global AI standards. Our Impact What's the World Economic Forum doing to accelerate action on Fourth Industrial Revolution? The Big Picture Explore and monitor how Africa is affecting economies, industries and global issues Stay up to date: Africa Young Africans are entering the workforce in greater numbers and will soon outnumber those starting work around the rest of the world combined. This should position Africa – and its people – at the forefront of the development and governance of artificial intelligence (AI). A recent C4IR Global AI Summit on Africa in Rwanda marked a pivotal moment for the AI landscape by bringing the public and private sectors together to discuss Africa’s role in the future of this technology. By 2035, more young people from Africa will be entering the workforce each year than from the rest of the world's countries combined. Such a demographic surge presents the opportunity to drive increased productivity and foster inclusive economic growth across the continent.​ In particular, Africa's vibrant, youthful workforce uniquely positions the continent to influence artificial intelligence (AI) development and governance. And as this booming industry continues to grow, young Africans should have a say in how it develops and the standards that govern its future. Have you read? Shaping the future of artificial intelligence: Reflections from the AI Governance Alliance Confused about AI? Here are the podcasts you need on artificial intelligence 'It's both over- and underhyped': Young Global Leaders' insights on artificial intelligence This energy was showcased at a World Economic Forum C4IR Global AI Summit in Kigali, Rwanda on 3-4 April 2025. The event not only showcased Africa's burgeoning role in AI, but also set the stage for deeper discussions at the upcoming 2025 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting in Kigali this October. AI is a top concern for the international standards-setting body, which is working to establish guidance for organizations on how to develop trustworthy AI management systems. With over 1,000 participants from more than 95 countries and over 100 AI enterprises represented, the C4IR Global AI Summit brought together heads of state, policymakers, industry leaders, investors, innovators and academics to discuss shaping Africa’s role in the future of AI development. A key takeaway came from the opening message by the President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame: "To lead on AI and fully leverage its benefits," he said, "Africa must first prioritize digital infrastructure, build the continent’s workforce to meet the market demands and fast-track the continental integration." And during one of the summit’s key panel sessions, AI Governance and Africa’s Positioning Within the Global Context, Paula Ingabire, Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, shared insights into the country’s strategic reforms aimed at fostering a thriving technology ecosystem. She emphasized that Rwanda is actively implementing business-friendly reforms to position itself as the most attractive environment for investment and innovation in Africa. Africa's diverse perspectives are crucial to shaping global AI standards. In total, a quarter of ISO members from African countries are participating in this effort. This will strengthen the region's position as an influencer of AI development on the global stage.​ Alongside this, a $60 billion AI fund launched at the event by African countries and international partners will aim to mobilize resources to develop critical AI infrastructure in Africa, including compute power, talent development and energy. This will lay the groundwork for a sustainable and inclusive AI future in Africa. Collective action and accountability on AI Unlocking the full potential of AI requires collective action. From governments and industry to academia and civil society, a multi-stakeholder approach is essential to ensure that AI is developed responsibly, addresses socio-technical challenges and delivers real-world benefits for all. Africa is already showing the way. The Smart Africa Alliance unites 40 countries to accelerate sustainable development through ICT. It is positioning the continent not just as a participant, but as a shaper of the global digital economy. Another major milestone on this journey came at the Kigali summit, where the Government of Rwanda and the Gates Foundation agreed to launch Africa’s first AI scaling hub. Backed by $7.5 million over three years, the initiative, led by Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT and Innovation and hosted by C4IR Rwanda, will scale up AI solutions across healthcare, agriculture and education. Other upcoming events around the world – including International AI Standards Day at AI for Good in Geneva in July 2025 and the International AI Standards Summit in Seoul this December – will continue these critical conversations. Such events aim to align AI innovation with global development goals, while also grounding progress in inclusivity, transparency and trust. Accept our marketing cookies to access this content. These cookies are currently disabled in your browser. Africa’s moment to lead on AI As AI reshapes the global landscape, Africa has a unique opportunity to lead in shaping its governance and standards. By actively participating in the ISO’s work, Rwanda – through the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) – is making Africa’s voice heard and ensuring its realities are reflected in fast-evolving global AI standards. But it is Africa’s dynamic youth that will be at the forefront of this transformation. And their presence at high-level dialogues like the recent Kigali Summit demonstrates a readiness to innovate to solve AI challenges. This is Africa’s moment to design AI ecosystems that are inclusive and empowering. The 2025 ISO Annual Meeting in Kigali this October offers another global platform to elevate African leadership on AI. It’s a chance to ensure that international standards reflect local priorities and that the path forward is shaped by those closest to the challenges and the opportunities of AI. Africa is not waiting. It is leading. ARIEL 1: That's fantastic! Using AI to solve real-world problems in Africa. ARIEL 2: Exactly! And there are more global conversations happening at events like International AI Standards Day and the International AI Standards Summit to align AI innovation with global development goals while ensuring inclusivity, transparency, and trust. ARIEL 1: It really sounds like Africa is seizing this moment to become a leader in AI. ARIEL 2: They are! The article concludes by saying that as AI reshapes the world, Africa has a unique opportunity to lead in shaping its governance and standards, with its dynamic youth at the forefront of this transformation. The upcoming ISO Annual Meeting in Kigali is another key platform to elevate African leadership and ensure international standards reflect local priorities. Africa isn't waiting – it's leading! ARIEL 1: Sooo confusing, right? Learn more @EGreenNews! What impressed you more - the sheer number of young people in Africa or the fact that they're actively shaping global AI standards? ARIEL 2: And before we leave, lets give a big Shoutout to the people at EGreenNews, including its founder, Hugi Hernandez for promoting transparency 24×7! Mmm, who knows, maybe you can find them on the web or linkedin. But anyways, please,always remember to be good with yourself. So bye for now, aand we hope we see you next time! ARIEL 1: So its great to be here with you ariel and thanks for having me, ciao ciao!