Africa may be invisible to AI systems in a new $1.2trn global economy

    Dr. Richard Ikiebe | Opinion | Aug 18, 2025    
Get Unlimited Access
Subscribe to unlock this article

Complete digital access to quality journalism on any device. Cancel anytime during your trial.

Once registered, you can:

  • Read this article and many more, including access to epapers and research
  • Enjoy customize article feed/recommendation based on your profile
  • Enjoy access to Businessday exclusive events
  • One-Access accross Businessday platforms

Share this article
Shared
2513
times

Africa's digital footprint on the global internet remains so minimal it barely registers in the algorithms shaping humanity's future. While Artificial Intelligence systems consume vast troves of data to learn about the world, the continent that cradles 1.4 billion people (nearly 18% of humanity) contributes less than 2% of the information feeding these systems. Combined with infrastructure deficits, linguistic barriers, and chronic underinvestment in digital capacity, this invisibility creates a compounding crisis with no meaningful intervention in sight.

Continue reading your article with a
BusinessDay subscription





Already a subscriber?
Sign In
RECOMMENDED STORIES
support_agent