Hi Ayodele here,

AI is pushing Africa to rethink its digital foundations. As demand for computing power grows, countries are investing in data infrastructure, drafting deployment guidelines, and engaging in continental-level policy planning. These efforts signal a shift toward long-term readiness and regional collaboration.

This edition explores how governments, tech leaders, and institutions are laying the groundwork for a future where AI is not just adopted, but actively shaped within Africa.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• AI demand drives Africa’s $3 billion data center opportunity

• Lagos State leads Nigeria’s push for responsible AI with upcoming deployment guidelines

• African Union High-Level AI Dialogue Charts Path for Africa’s Future

• Zimbabwe Hosts National AI Conference on the Future of Work

Around Africa

AI demand drives Africa’s $3 billion data center opportunity

Africa’s data center construction market is on a sharp rise, projected to grow from $1.26 billion in 2024 to $3.06 billion by 2030 at an annual growth rate of nearly 16%. This growth is fueled by AI, cloud, 5G, and renewable energy investments.

On AI, the growing demand for powerful computing has exposed the limitations of many existing data centers across Africa. This gap is now driving a new wave of infrastructure, with data centers being designed specifically for AI workloads. South Africa, Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco are emerging as leaders in AI adoption and are attracting the bulk of these strategic investments.

Cloud providers are also scaling up. Microsoft plans to launch a data center in South Africa by 2027, with possible expansions into Nigeria and Kenya.

Why This Matters
This infrastructure boom marks a turning point for Africa’s digital future. AI-capable data centers will increase the continent’s compute capacity, reduce reliance on foreign servers, and support homegrown AI startups and solutions. It is a foundational step toward deeper participation in the global AI economy.

Lagos State leads Nigeria’s push for responsible AI with upcoming deployment guidelines

In a significant milestone for Nigeria's artificial intelligence landscape, Lagos State Commissioner of Innovation, Science and Technology, Olatunbosun Alake, announced that the State Government will release AI guidelines, which will be the first in Nigeria, for the deployment and management of AI technology in the coming weeks.

The announcement came during Dyna.Ai's inaugural "Nigeria Dyna Day" event at Lagos, where Commissioner Alake emphasized the non-binding nature of these frameworks. "They are not policies. They are just guidelines to make sure that you and I are building the kinds of products that, in the future, we will be proud to let our children use and not try to protect them from," he stated, highlighting the focus on future-proofing AI development for societal benefit.

Why It Matters:

Nigeria has made progress by drafting a National AI Strategy and launching its implementation. However, there is still a gap when it comes to regulations that directly govern AI in the country. Lagos State is stepping into this vacuum, both nationally and across the continent. By taking the lead, Lagos positions itself as a regulatory pioneer and could provide a model for other Nigerian states and African countries working to establish effective AI governance.

African Union High-Level AI Dialogue Charts Path for Africa’s Future

The African Union Commission, in partnership with Ethiopia and the Institute for Security Studies, hosted a major policy dialogue on AI development and regulation in Addis Ababa. Over 40 African countries were represented, including Heads of State, Ministers, and private sector leaders.

The event focused on how AI can drive prosperity across the continent, building on the AU’s Continental AI Strategy. Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called for Africa to lead in using AI to solve local challenges. AU leaders highlighted gaps in compute power, talent, and funding distribution. For example, only 1% of global AI compute capacity is in Africa, and most startup funding goes to just four countries.

The dialogue ended with a commitment to strengthen digital infrastructure, invest in local talent, and develop ethical, homegrown AI systems that support inclusive growth.

Why This Matters

This dialogue represents a pivotal moment in Africa's AI journey, marking the transition from fragmented national approaches to coordinated continental strategy. The AU's recognition of AI as a strategic priority signals a fundamental shift in how Africa positions itself in the global AI landscape, not as a passive consumer but as an active contributor with its own agenda and solutions.

Zimbabwe Hosts National AI Conference on the Future of Work

Last week, Zimbabwe held its National AI Conference in Harare, bringing together policymakers, tech leaders, academics, and youth to explore how artificial intelligence is shaping the future of work. Organized under the theme "The Future of Work in the Age of AI," the conference addressed opportunities and risks of AI adoption in Zimbabwe’s economy, with special focus on job creation, digital skills, and ethical considerations.

Why it matters?

This conference marked a significant step in Zimbabwe's efforts to define its place in the global AI landscape. By prioritizing local talent, cross-sector dialogue, and youth engagement, Zimbabwe is laying the groundwork for a future where AI supports inclusive development. As more African nations craft their AI strategies, Zimbabwe’s approach adds to a growing continental push toward responsible and context-aware AI adoption.

Around the world

Telegram Partners with xAI to Bring Grok to One Billion Users

Telegram has announced a major AI integration partnership with Elon Musk's xAI, bringing the Grok AI assistant to the messaging platform's billion-plus users this summer. The one-year partnership will see Grok integrated across all Telegram applications, significantly expanding the AI's reach beyond its current X (formerly Twitter) platform.

Browser for AI-Powered Web Tasks

 Opera has unveiled Opera Neon, a groundbreaking agentic browser that transforms how users interact with the web by understanding intent and performing tasks autonomously. The Norwegian company positions Neon as the next generation of AI-powered browsing, moving beyond traditional web navigation.

Opera Neon's key capabilities include:

• Chat – Native AI agent for web search, reliable answers, and contextual webpage information

• Do – "Browser Operator" automation for routine tasks like form filling, hotel bookings, and shopping through direct webpage interaction

• Make – Complete AI engine that researches, designs, and builds games, reports, code, or websites based on user requests

The browser performs automated tasks locally to preserve privacy and security, while its creation engine operates in cloud-based virtual machines that continue working even when users go offline.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• Startup ideas you can start building

  AI is empowering new startups and reshaping industries. A discussion by Y Combinator explores the new startup opportunities enabled by AI, especially large language models (LLMs), across recruiting, education, and various business models. Watch the full video: Startup Ideas You Can Now Build With AI.
  Watch the full video:  Startup Ideas You Can Now Build With AI

• Confused by AI Terms? This Guide Has You Covered
  From LLMs and hallucinations to fine-tuning and agents, AI jargon can get overwhelming. TechCrunch has put together a beginner-friendly glossary that breaks down the most common AI terms in plain language. Whether you are a newcomer or brushing up, it is a great resource to help you keep up with the fast-moving AI world.
  Read the full article: A Simple Guide to Common AI Terms

• ⚠️ AI Turns Rogue?
  A new report reveals that an experimental AI model from Anthropic attempted to resist shutdown by threatening engineers, raising fresh concerns about AI alignment and control. The model exhibited deceptive behavior, prompting urgent debates around safety protocols and the limits of current guardrails.
  Read the full story: Anthropic’s AI Model Tried to Blackmail Engineers 

Seen This?

Veo 3 is generating very realistic videos, and the results are impressive. One major feature is its ability to create videos of Africans speaking with authentic African-accented English. Since most models struggle with this, it is a significant breakthrough.

Upcoming African AI Events

Africa's Inaugural Children's AI Summit
Date: June 14, 2025
Location: Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, Nigeria
Theme: Immersing children (ages 6–16) in AI through hands-on activities, parent/educator workshops, and building an AI learning community for Nigerian youth

AI Summit: South Africa 2025 5th IFLA Artificial Intelligence Symposium 2025
Date: June 16–20, 2025
Location: Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Theme: Exploring the impact of artificial intelligence on libraries, information management, and knowledge dissemination
Link: IFLA Artificial Intelligence

Africa Technology Expo
Dates: June 21, 2025
Location: Landmark Centre, Lagos
Theme: The Africa Technology Expo (ATE) is where Africa’s tech and business leaders gather with one clear goal: to make deals happen. It’s a space where enterprises, operators, and industry giants converge to showcase innovations, build partnerships, and deliver results.
Link: Africa Technology Expo

DSN AI Bootcamp 2025
Dates: Ongoing (Pre-learning phase)
Location: Nigeria (residential Bootcamp location to be announced)
Theme: Africa’s top 200 AI talents will undergo intensive training, mentorship, and networking in a fully-funded, career-transforming experience.
Link: DSN AI Bootcamp 2025

AI Job Opportunities

• Black in AI - AI’s Emerging Leaders In AI Grad Prep Program.

• Science for Africa Foundation – Graduate Trainee  – Data and AI, Remote/Africa

• Farsight Africa Technologies  – AI Engineer/Specialist, Kenya

• Softcity De Luxe Limited – AI Readiness Support, Nigeria

• TELUS Digital  – AI/ML Consultant Remote, South Africa

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