AI at the UN: Where Does Africa Stand?

 

At this year’s United Nations General Assembly, global leaders raised one of the most urgent conversations of our time: Artificial Intelligence. They called AI a double-edged sword—capable of fueling progress or amplifying risks, depending on how humanity chooses to shape it.

For Africa, this conversation is not abstract. It is immediate, real, and defining for the continent’s future.

On one hand, AI presents extraordinary opportunities. It can transform agriculture with smarter climate predictions, boost financial inclusion through fintech solutions, improve healthcare diagnostics, and expand education access in even the most remote communities. For Africa, where innovation often rises from necessity, AI offers a chance to leapfrog traditional development pathways.

On the other hand, the risks cannot be ignored. Without inclusive governance, Africa risks becoming a testing ground for unregulated technologies or a passive consumer of AI solutions built elsewhere, with little alignment to local realities. The warnings from the UNGA—on disinformation, economic inequality, and AI-powered conflict—carry weight in a continent already navigating challenges of governance, security, and equitable growth.

So, where does Africa stand?

Africa stands at a crossroads. Policymakers, entrepreneurs, and researchers are beginning to shape an African voice in the global AI conversation. Countries like Kenya, Rwanda, and Nigeria are developing digital policies that include AI frameworks. Local startups are proving that African-led AI innovation can address uniquely African problems. But the continent must scale these efforts fast and ensure that its seat at the global table is not only symbolic, but influential.

The message from the UNGA is clear: the world cannot afford to treat AI as business-as-usual. For Africa, this is the moment to define its future—not as a follower in the AI race, but as a leader shaping technology that serves its people.

The double-edged sword of AI cuts both ways. Africa’s choice is whether to grasp it with vision and unity—or risk being cut by it.