Hi Ayodele here,

This week’s update: Across Africa, countries are taking coordinated steps to build the systems that make AI work. Guinea is partnering with UNDP to advance its AI strategy, Ethiopia and Liberia are collaborating on AI and education, and Zambia is laying the groundwork for AI in healthcare through large-scale data systems. Together, these moves show how partnerships and data are becoming key drivers of AI progress on the continent.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• Guinea partners with UNDP to accelerate AI and digital transformation

• Ethiopia and Liberia sign AI and digital cooperation agreements

• Zambia Builds AI-Ready Healthcare System with 12 Million Digital Patient Records

Around Africa

Guinea partners with UNDP to accelerate AI and digital transformation

Guinea has partnered with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to fast-track its national AI and digital transformation strategy. The collaboration focuses on strengthening digital infrastructure, building AI talent, and supporting innovation ecosystems across the country. It also includes capacity-building programs for government institutions to better integrate AI into public service delivery.

The initiative aims to position Guinea as a competitive player in West Africa’s emerging digital economy. Both parties will work together on policy frameworks, funding access, and technical support. This marks a significant step toward structured AI adoption in the country.

Why it matters

This partnership helps Guinea move from ambition to execution by combining global expertise with local priorities. It also highlights the growing role of international organisations in shaping Africa’s AI trajectory. Building both infrastructure and talent at the same time increases the chances of sustainable impact.

Ethiopia and Liberia sign AI and digital cooperation agreements

Ethiopia and Liberia have signed a series of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) to deepen collaboration in AI, education, and digital technology. The agreements focus on knowledge exchange, joint research, and the development of digital skills across both countries. A key priority is integrating AI into educational systems to better prepare students for future work environments. The partnership also includes plans to share best practices in digital governance and innovation policy. Officials from both nations emphasized the importance of regional cooperation in building resilient tech ecosystems. This move reflects a broader trend of intra-African collaboration in AI development.

Why it matters

Regional partnerships like this reduce reliance on external ecosystems and encourage shared growth. By aligning on education and AI, both countries can build stronger talent pipelines and accelerate innovation. Collaboration at this level also strengthens Africa’s collective voice in global AI discussions.

Zambia builds AI-ready healthcare system with 12 million digital records

Zambia is advancing its healthcare system with the rollout of SmartCare Pro, a digital platform that now holds over 12 million patient records. The system is designed to support AI-driven healthcare solutions by providing structured, large-scale medical data. It enables better patient tracking, improved diagnostics, and more efficient healthcare delivery across the country. The government plans to leverage this data foundation to introduce predictive analytics and decision-support tools for clinicians. SmartCare Pro is part of Zambia’s broader effort to modernize its health infrastructure through digital transformation. The initiative demonstrates how data infrastructure can unlock AI capabilities in critical sectors.

Why it matters

AI in healthcare depends heavily on high-quality, structured data, and Zambia is building exactly that foundation. With millions of records digitized, the country is positioned to deploy AI tools that can improve patient outcomes and system efficiency. This is a strong example of how data-first strategies enable real AI impact in Africa.

Around the world

Anthropic Launches Claude Opus 4.7 with Focus on Cybersecurity

Anthropic has released Claude Opus 4.7, a new version of its flagship model with enhanced capabilities in cybersecurity analysis and threat detection. The model is designed to help identify vulnerabilities, analyze code for security risks, and support defensive cyber operations. It builds on previous versions with improved reasoning and contextual understanding, making it more reliable for high-stakes environments.

Google Introduces Side-by-Side Web Exploration with AI Mode

Google has introduced a new feature that allows users to explore the web side-by-side with its AI Mode, combining traditional browsing with real-time AI assistance. Users can now view web pages while simultaneously interacting with AI-generated summaries, explanations, and follow-up insights. The feature is designed to make research more interactive and efficient by reducing the need to switch between tabs or tools.

Canvas AI Assistant Can Now Use Tools to Generate Designs

Canvas has upgraded its AI assistant to support tool usage, allowing it to generate and refine designs using multiple integrated capabilities. Users can now prompt the assistant to create layouts, edit visuals, and combine elements using built-in design tools without manual intervention. The assistant can call different functions such as image editing, text generation, and layout adjustments to produce more complete outputs. This makes the design process faster and more accessible, especially for non-designers.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• Rethinking Education in the Age of AI

  A widely shared LinkedIn post by Emmanuel Acheampong reflects on the limitations of traditional education systems in preparing students for an AI-driven world. Drawing from personal experience, he argues that success today is less about memorization and more about adaptability, problem-solving, and leveraging tools like AI effectively. The post highlights how many high-performing students under conventional systems may struggle to translate that success into real-world impact.

  Read the full post: Rethinking Education in the Age of AI

• The Hidden Economics of Workplace AI

  A recent piece from iAfrica explores the less obvious economic impact of AI adoption in the workplace. While AI promises efficiency and productivity gains, the article highlights hidden costs such as integration complexity, employee retraining, and workflow restructuring. It also examines how AI can shift value creation within organizations, often concentrating power among those who understand and control these systems.

  Read the full article: The Hidden Economics of Workplace AI 

Seen This?

Reports emerged that Meta is developing an AI clone of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, trained on his exact mannerisms, communication style, and strategy to interact with employees and make decisions when he is unavailable

Upcoming African AI Events

AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya
Date: May 19–21, 2026
Location: Nairobi, KenyaTast Africa's largest AI and tech event, powered by GITEX, bringing together enterprises, startups, policymakers, and governments with a focus on Kenya's AI-driven economic transformation and digital infrastructure growth.
Link:  AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya  

Deep Learning IndabaX Nigeria 2026
Dates: May 11–14, 2026
Location: University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Theme: Strengthening the Nigerian AI ecosystem through grassroots knowledge sharing. This event focuses on deep learning research, practical workshops on Large Language Models (LLMs), and fostering collaboration among students, researchers, and industry professionals across West Africa.

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

• Artefact - Junior Data Scientist, Abidjan

• ENS - AI Engineer, Johannesburg

• Nestle - Data Analyst Trainee, Abidjan

• Luno - Data Scientist, South Africa

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