The African Development Bank and technology giant Intel have partnered to train 3 million Africans and 30,000 government officials with AI skills.
Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a significant force, altering lifestyles and work dynamics. Its impact extends across diverse sectors such as healthcare, finance, and education, demonstrating a pervasive influence in shaping modern society. This widespread adoption underscores the practical applications of AI, contributing to increased efficiency and convenience in various aspects of our daily routines.
Bienvenu Agbokponto Soglo, Director of Government Affairs Africa and IGA CTO Liaison at Intel stated, “Intel looks forward to furthering its collaboration with African governments to make advanced technologies such as AI accessible to all, breaking down barriers related to geography, gender, and ethnicity, and enabling widespread participation in the digital economy.”
The deal will help create a critical mass of Africans proficient in Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) skills to accelerate growth and productivity and position Africans as contributors, not just consumers of 4IR.
The training will address socio-economic challenges and boost productivity in key growth sectors such as agriculture, health, and education, thereby disrupting traditional growth cycles.
The partnership will also support African countries, regional economic communities, and continental organizations in developing harmonized policy and regulatory frameworks in AI, 5G, Wi-Fi 6E, data and cloud.
Ousmane Fall, African Development Bank’s Acting Director of Industrial and Trade Development, underscored the importance of digital skills for Africa’s youth. “With advancements in digital technology, our world is rapidly evolving, and so is our youthful population, projected to reach 830 million by 2050. To develop skills on a large scale and at the necessary speed, we need everyone’s cooperation,” he said. “
The Bank is thrilled to collaborate with Intel to work towards this shared commitment. Together, we are shaping the digital future of Africa and empowering our youth.”
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) market is expected to continue to experience significant growth and development until 2030, driven by increasing adoption of AI technologies across industries, advancements in AI algorithms and infrastructure, and growing investment in AI research and development. The market is expected to see continued innovation and expansion, with AI becoming an increasingly integral part of business operations and consumer-facing applications.