Hi Ayodele here,

Welcome to the first weekly roundup of the year. Since the start of the year, several African countries have made important moves to shape how AI is developed and used on the continent. Morocco is investing in local-language AI research, Zimbabwe is preparing to launch its national AI strategy, Rwanda is mandating AI training for public servants, and Kenya is backing its ambitions with major funding. Together, these developments point to a more intentional and homegrown approach to AI across Africa.

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• Morocco expands partnership with Mistral AI to build multilingual AI labZimbabwe to unveil national AI strategy under Vision 2030 agenda

• Rwanda mandates AI training for all public servants

• Kenya Plans Massive Investment in AI Solutions

If you missed our first edition of the year, our Perspectives think piece titled Africa’s AI Moment: Highlights of 2025, Signals for 2026 takes a step back to reflect on the broader trends shaping what comes next.

Around Africa

Morocco expands partnership with Mistral AI to build multilingual AI lab

Morocco and French AI company Mistral AI have formalised an expanded partnership under the AI Made in Morocco initiative, signing a convention with the Ministère de la Transition Numérique et de la Réforme de l’Administration to establish the Mistral AI & MTNRA lab in Rabat. It builds on an existing MoU signed between both parties in September 2025. The joint research and development hub will focus on co-building multilingual AI models tailored to Morocco’s linguistic and cultural context, such as text, OCR, and speech-to-speech systems designed for Darija and other local languages. Workshops, technical exchanges, and methodology sharing are planned to strengthen local AI talent and research capacity.

Why it matters

By developing AI that understands local languages and cultural nuances, Morocco is tackling a major barrier to adoption and usefulness for everyday citizens. This approach strengthens digital sovereignty and reduces dependency on foreign AI models that underperform on local contexts. The initiative also helps build a homegrown AI talent pipeline and supports innovation ecosystems tailored to national priorities. As other African nations develop their AI strategies, Morocco’s lab could serve as a model for regionally relevant AI development.

Zimbabwe to unveil national AI strategy under Vision 2030 agenda

Zimbabwe’s government reaffirmed its commitment to digital transformation, revealing progress on its National Artificial Intelligence Strategy as part of the broader digital agenda under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030. Officials highlighted the strategy’s completion and upcoming public launch, reinforcing efforts to use AI responsibly and inclusively across public services and governance. Significant strides have also been made in expanding digital inclusion, including community digital centres, telemedicine, and skills programmes aimed at broadening access to technology.  

Why it matters

Finalising a national AI strategy lays a formal foundation for responsible adoption, regulation, and investment in emerging technologies. It signals to investors and international partners that Zimbabwe is serious about governing AI while fostering innovation. Expanded connectivity and digital inclusion measures create conditions for broader societal benefit from AI tools, particularly in health and public service delivery. A clear strategy also helps ensure that AI development aligns with national priorities rather than fragmented pilots.

Rwanda mandates AI training for all public servants

The Rwandan government has announced a policy requiring AI training for all public servants, regardless of their role or prior tech experience, as part of its effort to modernise public administration. The programme will educate civil servants on how AI works and how to apply it in daily tasks to improve service delivery, efficiency, and administrative quality. Training is designed to be flexible and accessible, allowing participants to complete courses alongside regular duties. Kigali sees this initiative as central to its broader digital government strategy, which integrates information and communication technologies across sectors.

Why it matters

Widespread AI literacy within government can accelerate digital transformation and improve citizen services by making public institutions more efficient and responsive. This sets a foundation for evidence-based policymaking and helps Rwanda harness AI for socio-economic development. Mandatory training also reduces capacity gaps that can slow adoption or lead to misuse of technology. As other African governments design AI strategies, Rwanda’s approach could become a model for building human capital at scale.or leaders.

Kenya Plans Massive Investment in AI Solutions

Kenya’s government announced plans to allocate Ksh 356 billion (about 2 % of GDP) toward AI research and development to support the country’s AI Strategy 2025–2030 and a forthcoming national AI policy. The funds will support efforts to deploy AI in various sectors including health, education, renewable energy, agriculture, and security. Officials say the investment represents a significant increase from current levels and reflects Kenya’s ambition to become a leader in AI innovation across East Africa.

Why it matters

Such a large funding commitment signals that Kenya sees AI as a strategic pillar for socio-economic transformation rather than a niche tech trend. Increased investment can catalyse research, entrepreneurship, and local AI solutions that address region-specific challenges. A clear policy framework will help attract private sector participation and foreign investment while guiding ethical and inclusive adoption. This positions Kenya to compete regionally in AI talent and innovation.

Around the world

Anthropic Updates Claude’s “Constitution” to Shape Ethical AI

Anthropic has released a revised “Claude Constitution,” a 57-page internal document guiding the ethical values and decision-making behaviour of its Claude AI models. The updated framework moves beyond simple rules to encourage reasoning about moral conflicts and the why behind safe behaviour. Interestingly, Anthropic even discusses the possibility of Claude having a form of consciousness or moral status in the future as part of its character design.

Anthropic Enters Healthcare with Claude for Healthcare

Anthropic announced Claude for Healthcare, its new suite of AI tools designed to support clinicians, payers, and patients with secure access to medical records and wellness data. Users on Claude Pro and Max plans can connect lab results, health metrics, and other health information for clear summaries, pattern detection, and appointment preparation help. The launch follows OpenAI’s ChatGPT Health rollout, marking a new competitive phase in AI-assisted healthcare. Claude’s tools emphasize security and require qualified professional review for medical decisions.

Google Unveils Universal Commerce Protocol to Power AI Agent Shopping

At the NRF 2026 conference, Google introduced the Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP), an open standard for AI agent-based shopping that lets AI systems discover products, compare offers, and complete purchases end-to-end across retailers. Built with partners including Shopify, Target, Walmart, Etsy, and Wayfair, UCP aims to let agents manage the entire shopping journey without custom integrations for each store. Early adoption by retailers and payment partners shows industry interest in agentic commerce.

AI Powers Next-Gen Siri Through Google Gemini Integration

Apple is reworking Siri into a more advanced AI assistant by integrating Google’s Gemini AI technology, moving beyond its traditional voice assistant capabilities. The revamped Siri will support both voice and text interactions and is expected to debut with deeper contextual understanding and richer responses later in 2026. This shift reflects a multiyear partnership between Apple and Google to enhance AI features across Apple devices, potentially launching during Apple’s WWDC event. By embedding Gemini, Apple aims to catch up with competitors like ChatGPT and other generative AI assistants.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• The Benefits of Bubbles: Why AI Hype Isn’t All Bad: Ben Thompson argues that speculative “bubbles” around technologies like AI can have long-term benefits even if they ultimately burst. In his view, bubbles help finance critical infrastructure and experimentation that wouldn’t otherwise happen, such as power generation, chip fabs, and research capacity. Thompson draws parallels to historical periods like the dot-com era, where overinvestment in underutilized assets (like fiber networks) later became foundational to the modern internet. He suggests that even if AI spending outpaces near-term profitability, the investments may still lay groundwork for future growth. Read the full article: The Benefits of Bubbles: Why AI Hype Isn’t All Bad

• The AI Revolution Is Here: Will the Economy Survive? An essay shared by Michael Burry, Dwarkesh Patel, Jack Clark, and Patrick McKenzie examines whether the current AI boom is a lasting transformation or an economic mirage. Burry, known for predicting the 2008 financial crisis, brings skepticism, questioning whether massive infrastructure and compute spending will generate durable returns. Clark of Anthropic and others provide counterpoints, highlighting that the technology itself is real even if the current business models are immature. Read the full article: The AI Revolution Is Here: Will the Economy Survive?

Seen This?

Upcoming African AI Events

AI in Action 2026: Practical AI Conference
Date: January 22, 2026
Location: Lagos Oriental Hotel, Lagos, Nigeria
Theme: A practical, one-day AI event focused on real-world AI applications, networking, workshops, and ecosystem building for founders, developers, policymakers, and students.

Link: AI in Action 2026

AICA 2026: Where Africa Meets the Future of AI (Accra)
Date: January 23–24, 2026
Location: Accra, Ghana (Accra International Conference Centre)
Theme: Pan-African AI gathering connecting innovators, startups, policymakers, and researchers to showcase AI solutions, discuss ethical and responsible adoption, and explore opportunities for collaboration across the continent.
Link: AICA 2026

Tech Revolution Africa 2026
Dates: January 30–31, 2026
Location: Landmark Event Centre, Lagos, Nigeria
Theme: One of Africa’s largest tech conferences, bringing together thousands of leaders, investors, startups, and innovators. With sessions covering digital economy growth, AI innovation, policy, investment, and ecosystem development, this event seeks to define the next decade of tech progress on the continent.
Link: Tech Revolution Africa 2026

AI Job Opportunities

• FNB South Africa - Data Scientist I, South Africa

• Discovery Limited - Machine Learning Engineer, South Africa

• Partners In Health  – Research Data Systems Intern, Rwanda

• Innodata Inc. - Data Annotator, Angola

• Crossover - AI Engineer (Remote), South Africa

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