By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
Smart Africa CEO and
Secretariat of the AI Council for Africa, Lacina Koné, has advocated for stronger
African capabilities in artificial intelligence as the technology accelerates,
arguing that the continent should play a greater role in shaping the AI
revolution.
Lacina Koné made the remarks
in London during the Ministerial Alliance for Digital Nations session held as
the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation marked its 125th anniversary.
He emphasised that
harmonisation should not require countries to surrender their sovereignty or
adopt identical approaches, but should instead focus on establishing common
principles, trust and interoperability while preserving national choices.
“As AI accelerates, Africa
must move from capacity building to capability building: the capability to
govern our data, develop useful AI, make our own technological choices and
participate in setting global standards,” Lacina Koné said.
He identified useful AI as a
priority for the continent, highlighting applications in agriculture,
healthcare, education, climate and economic transformation.
“Our priority must be useful
AI: AI for agriculture, healthcare, education, climate and economic
transformation,” he said.
Lacina Koné also stressed
the importance of Africa participating in the development of AI rather than
limiting its role to adoption and consumption.
“Africa should not only
consume the AI revolution. We must help shape it,” he said.
The remarks come amid
growing discussions around digital cooperation, interoperability and AI
governance as African countries seek to strengthen their ability to develop,
regulate and apply emerging technologies while maintaining national policy
choices.
