Artificial intelligence took centre stage at this year’s GITEX Global technology conference in Dubai, with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and other industry leaders urging African nations to embrace the technology’s transformative potential and build local ecosystems to harness its power.
AI as the new growth frontier
The 2025 edition of GITEX showcased how AI is reshaping economies, from finance and healthcare to education and agriculture. Sam Altman, addressing a packed audience, said Africa stood at a “historic crossroads,” with the chance to leapfrog legacy systems through strategic use of artificial intelligence. He called for investment in digital infrastructure, AI literacy, and responsible innovation frameworks that prioritise both opportunity and safety.
Altman warned, however, that hesitation or dependency on imported technologies could leave Africa trailing behind. “This is not about catching up — it’s about taking the lead where others are complacent,” he said, highlighting the continent’s young population and entrepreneurial dynamism as key advantages.
A surge of regional innovation
From Kenya’s AI-powered fintech startups to Nigeria’s emerging data-science hubs and South Africa’s healthcare automation projects, African innovators were strongly represented at GITEX. Many exhibitors showcased solutions designed for local challenges — such as language-specific chatbots, smart-farming systems and digital-ID verification tools. Governments from Egypt, Rwanda and Ghana presented national AI roadmaps aimed at boosting productivity and inclusion.
Industry analysts noted that Africa’s rapid mobile-internet expansion and youthful workforce make it uniquely positioned to benefit from AI-driven growth. However, access to capital, data infrastructure and regulatory clarity remain major constraints.
Calls for collaboration and inclusion
Speakers across the event emphasised that sustainable AI growth will depend on collaboration between governments, academia and the private sector. The African Union’s representative at GITEX urged countries to align national strategies under a continental AI framework to avoid duplication and ensure shared standards.
Microsoft, Google and Huawei also announced new partnerships to support AI education, cloud access and developer training across the region. These initiatives, coupled with the enthusiasm witnessed at GITEX, signal a growing belief that Africa’s digital transformation may hinge on how quickly it can make AI an indigenous strength rather than an imported tool.
The moment of decision
As GITEX concluded, the message was clear: the world’s next great AI revolution may well be written in Africa — but only if the continent acts decisively to invest, regulate and innovate on its own terms.
Newshub Editorial in Middle East & Africa – 29 October 2025
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