Africa is stepping into the Age of Intelligence with a key advantage: its people. By 2030, Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to provide half of the world’s new workforce. A recent report highlights that this demographic shift presents a significant opportunity for the continent. Talent is seen as essential for developing artificial intelligence, alongside data, computing power, and practical applications.
The report, created by Zindi in partnership with Dalberg Data Insights and the International Centre for AI Research Ethics, focuses on the career outcomes of African data scientists. It notes that skilled workers are crucial for transforming raw data into valuable insights. Philip Thigo, a technology envoy from Kenya, emphasized that Africa’s talent is already contributing to the global AI industry, proving that the continent is not just waiting to be included but is actively participating.
Thigo urges companies and policymakers to rethink how they connect young people to job opportunities. He highlights that platforms like Zindi demonstrate the abundance of talent in Africa, but there must be pathways to turn skills into jobs. This vision for a robust AI ecosystem in Africa aims to ensure that the continent becomes a creator of technology rather than merely a consumer.
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