Assessing Africa’s AI Readiness and Challenges
Sub-Saharan Africa is often perceived as one of the least prepared regions for the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI). However, technology policy experts assert that this perspective is somewhat misleading. According to them, the narrative of a pervasive AI deficit overlooks critical data that reveals a more nuanced reality.
Dr. Janie Zaiman, Executive Director of the Technology and Information Coalition of Africa (TICON Africa), elaborates on this in her policy commentary titled “Africa’s AI Regulation is Moving Rapidly: Where is Africa’s Collective Voice?” Released amid a global discourse on AI governance, Zaiman’s analysis utilizes insights from both the International Monetary Fund (IMF) AI Readiness Index and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) upcoming report for 2025, aiming to reconstruct the challenges the continent faces.
The IMF AI Preparedness Index evaluates countries on their readiness to adopt and leverage AI across four critical dimensions: digital infrastructure, human capital, innovation capacity, and regulatory frameworks. Countries are scored on a scale of 0 to 1. Developed countries average a score of 0.68, emerging markets sit at 0.46, and low-income countries at 0.32. Notably, Sub-Saharan Africa has a score of 0.34, placing it slightly above the average for low-income countries and bringing it closer to emerging markets than commonly portrayed in media narratives.
This positioning is significant for Dr. Zaiman, who argues that the global AI gap is influenced more by levels of development than by geographic factors. She emphasizes that Africa is part of a larger global community striving to establish the necessary systems for meaningful AI adoption. “While Africa faces real readiness challenges, so do many regions outside the most advanced economies,” Dr. Zaiman observes.
More crucial than the index score itself, the commentary suggests, is the underlying dynamics at play. Citing the UNCTAD 2025 report, Dr. Zaiman underscores a growing chasm between the rate of AI advancement and the capability of governments and institutions to manage and implement it effectively. Many regions, including those ranked higher than Africa, exhibit a trend of making ambitious AI policy announcements without corresponding investments in infrastructure, institutional capacity, or skill development required to achieve tangible outcomes.
This shift necessitates a redefinition of competitiveness in the age of AI. “Issuing policies alone will no longer suffice; influence will derive from those who can actualize governance through people, systems, and execution capabilities,” the commentary states. The analysis identifies essential differentiators between nations that can leverage AI and those that cannot, including the development of a skilled talent pipeline, investment in digital infrastructure, and the establishment of adaptable institutions capable of translating policy into functional technical and regulatory frameworks.
This insight carries significant implications for businesses, policymakers, and emerging professionals throughout Africa. AI is reshaping industries, educational systems, labor markets, and governance in real-time. The capacity to implement, regulate, and build upon AI tools will increasingly dictate economic competitiveness at both national and continental levels.
Dr. Zaiman advocates for a tailored approach, suggesting that Africa should concentrate on developing systems that reflect local realities—such as accessible internet, a burgeoning skilled workforce, and effective institutions—rather than merely trying to emulate the conditions present in developed countries.
