Hi Ayodele here,

This week’s updates: Ghana is setting direction with a national strategy, Egypt is building capacity through global partnerships, and Smart Africa is driving adoption at a continental level. Meanwhile, young talent in Tunisia is pushing the boundaries of what can be built with AI. Across Africa, countries and institutions are taking coordinated steps to grow their AI ecosystems.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• Ghana unveils national AI strategy to guide AI transformation

• Egypt expands Intel partnership to boost AI infrastructure and talent

• Smart Africa partners with SAP to scale AI adoption across the continent

• Tunisian Students Set Guinness World Record with AI Startup Built in Under Three Hours

Around Africa

Ghana unveils national AI strategy to guide AI transformation

Ghana has officially launched its national AI strategy aimed at guiding the country’s digital transformation in a structured and responsible way. The strategy outlines priorities such as ethical AI use, infrastructure development, and talent growth across key sectors. It also emphasizes inclusive AI systems that reflect local languages, cultures, and economic needs.

Government agencies, private sector players, and academic institutions are expected to collaborate on implementation. The framework also addresses governance, data protection, and long-term sustainability of AI systems. This positions Ghana among the leading African countries taking a policy-driven approach to AI adoption.

Why it matters
A national strategy reduces fragmented development and aligns stakeholders under a common vision. It ensures AI is deployed responsibly while still driving innovation. Ghana is strengthening its position as a leader in structured AI adoption in Africa.

Egypt expands Intel partnership to boost AI infrastructure and talent

Egypt has expanded its partnership with Intel to accelerate its national AI ambitions through stronger infrastructure and talent development. The collaboration includes building advanced computing capabilities to support AI workloads across sectors. It also focuses on training programs for developers, engineers, and students to strengthen the local talent pipeline.

Both parties are working on initiatives that support startups and enterprise adoption of AI solutions. The partnership aligns with Egypt’s broader goal of becoming a regional technology and innovation hub. It reflects a long-term commitment to building both the technical and human capacity needed for AI growth.

Why it matters
Global partnerships can accelerate access to expertise, tools, and infrastructure. This helps countries scale faster without starting from scratch. Egypt is positioning itself as a strong player in Africa’s AI ecosystem.

Smart Africa partners with SAP to scale AI adoption across the continent

The Smart Africa alliance has partnered with SAP to accelerate AI adoption and digital maturity across African nations. The initiative will support governments and businesses with tools, frameworks, and training needed to integrate AI into their operations. It also focuses on improving data systems, governance structures, and enterprise capabilities.

The partnership leverages SAP’s enterprise technology alongside Smart Africa’s network of member states. It aims to move AI adoption from isolated pilots to large-scale implementation across sectors. This reflects a growing push for coordinated, continent-wide digital transformation efforts.

Why it matters
Continental collaborations help avoid fragmented progress and create shared standards. This makes it easier to scale AI solutions across borders. It also strengthens Africa’s position as a unified digital economy.

Tunisian Students Set Guinness World Record with AI Startup Built in Under Three Hours

A team of Tunisian students has set a Guinness World Record by building an AI-powered startup in less than three hours. The challenge required them to ideate, develop, and present a working AI solution within a highly constrained timeframe. Using modern AI tools, the team was able to rapidly prototype and deliver a functional product. The achievement highlights the increasing accessibility of AI development tools for young innovators. It also showcases the technical skills and creativity emerging from Africa’s youth ecosystem. The project has drawn attention to Tunisia as a growing hub for tech talent and innovation.

Why it matters
AI is dramatically reducing the time it takes to build and launch ideas. This empowers young developers to experiment, innovate, and compete globally. It also reinforces the importance of investing in youth talent across the continent.

Around the world

Google’s Gemini AI Assistant Expands into Vehicles

Google is bringing its Gemini AI assistant into millions of vehicles, marking a major step toward AI-powered driving experiences. The integration will allow drivers to interact with their cars using natural language for tasks like navigation, messaging, and information retrieval. Gemini can provide real-time assistance, suggest routes, and even help manage schedules while on the move. The goal is to create a more intuitive and hands-free driving environment powered by AI.

Google Photos Uses AI to Recreate the “Clueless” Closet Experience

Google has introduced a new AI-powered feature in Google Photos inspired by the iconic closet from the movie Clueless. The feature allows users to organize outfits digitally, mix and match clothing, and get suggestions using AI. By analyzing images in your photo library, the system can identify clothing items and help create coordinated looks. It brings a playful but practical use of AI into everyday life, blending fashion and technology.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• The Intelligence Is Plenty, But the Workers Are Few: A new piece by Dan Björkegren argues that the real bottleneck in today’s AI era is no longer intelligence, but execution. While AI systems are becoming increasingly capable, there are still not enough people or processes to effectively apply that intelligence in real-world settings. The article highlights how organizations struggle to translate AI potential into actual productivity gains due to gaps in talent, coordination, and implementation. Read the full article: The Intelligence Is Plenty, But the Workers Are Few

• A Glimpse Into the Future with GPT-5.5: In a recent Substack post, Ethan Mollick explores what GPT-5.5 signals about the future of AI. He describes the model as a step toward more reliable, context-aware systems that can handle complex tasks with less supervision. The piece reflects on how these improvements are changing the way people work, learn, and interact with technology. Read the full article: Sign of the Future: GPT-5.5

Seen This?

Upcoming African AI Events

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

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

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