Africa can adopt exponential technologies but needs IT-friendly governments to make it happen

Considering the breadth, depth and pace of technological advancement, it is clear we live in a time like no other. In 1999, Ray Kurzweil postulated the Law of Accelerating Returns, which states that the rate of progress in an ecosystem that learns via evolution (i.e. iteratively, via trial and error) increases exponentially. More importantly, the more advanced such a system becomes, the faster its rate of progress grows. That is what the world is witnessing today, and Africa needs to be part of the tsunami.

Indeed, Africa has begun to witness the spread of networks, sensors, artificial intelligence, and automation. Emerging technologies such as CCTV cameras with facial recognition systems, drones, robots, and “smart cities” are also advancing in Africa. Africa thus is about to change in profound ways. A significant convergence of emerging technologies, powered by universal connectivity and advances like artificial intelligence (AI), put together to complement each other will change the way we work, play, and live in Africa.

The rapidly developing set of exponential technologies have the prospect to solve some of the challenges that affect Africa and of driving growth and development in core sectors, which include agriculture, healthcare, public services and financial services. By adopting exponential technologies in the following core sectors:

  1. Agriculture will be done more efficiently and effectively, raising yields.
  2. Healthcare will be better tailored, of higher quality, and more accessible, improving outcomes.
  3. Public services will be more efficient and more responsive to citizens, enhancing impact.
  4. Financial services will be more secure and reach more citizens who need them, expanding access.

Stakeholders in the IT sector, such as IT investors, operators, organizations, etc. are mobilising to foster the growth of a viable tech ecosystem in Africa. There remain structural challenges that can hinder the development of a viable tech ecosystem in Africa:

  1. The education sector will need to adapt quickly, and a new curriculum needs to be formulated and implemented for primary, secondary and tertiary institutions to develop the digital skills they need to thrive.
  2. Broadband coverage will need to expand rapidly, particularly in rural areas — for all citizens and businesses to reap the benefits.
  3. Ethical implications regarding the fair, secure, and inclusive use of exponential technology also must be addressed through collaboration and engagement to ensure technological systems earn trust.
  4. Ensuring a deeper, broader, and more accessible pool of data availability will also be key to enabling researchers, developers, and users to drive exponential technology

Governments can embrace the tackling of these challenges and benefit from exponential technologies by designing clear roadmaps to guide the adoption of these technologies. Moreover, they should amend their laws and legal frameworks to help these data-driven technologies; strengthen the digital infrastructure for development; foster a PPP enabling environment, and set the tone of a collaborative strategy that allows all stakeholders to share their understandings, expertise, and investments, and also to build trust.

With the correct mix of policies, and the will to succeed, Africa can reap the blessings of the transformations, investments and innovations in the years to come.

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