Hi Ayodele here,

This week’s developments show how Africa is not only investing in AI but also shaping its role in global collaboration, ethics, and innovation. Morocco is stepping up as a regional leader in responsible AI development. Afreximbank is backing a bold Africa–Caribbean partnership to build shared AI capacity. And MTN is launching Genova to nurture African talent and drive context-driven innovation.

In this edition, we explore how regional cooperation and local leadership are coming together to build a self-sustaining AI future for Africa..

Let us get into it. In this edition:

• UNDP and Morocco partner to promote responsible AI and digital public services

• Afreximbank funds Africa-Caribbean AI collaboration

• MTN launches Genova to drive AI innovation in Africa

Around Africa

UNDP and Morocco partner to promote responsible AI and digital public services

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Morocco’s Ministry of Digital Transition have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding. Their goal is to promote inclusive digital transformation across the Arab States and African regions under the new Digital for Sustainable Development Hub.

The partnership will focus on:

• Improving digital public services

• Encouraging responsible AI adoption

• Building robust institutional and regulatory frameworks to support innovation

Morocco’s strong track record in digital governance and data science, combined with growing internet penetration, makes it an ideal hub for leading inclusive, rights-based digital ecosystems.

Why This Matters
This partnership empowers more countries in Africa and the Arab world to adopt ethical, impactful digital and AI policies. By anchoring around Morocco’s progress and the UNDP-backed Hub, it lays the foundation for regional collaboration that advances shared Sustainable Development Goals.

Afreximbank funds Africa-Caribbean AI collaboration

The African Export‑Import Bank (Afreximbank) is sponsoring a joint Africa‑Caribbean AI pilot coordinated by the PJ Patterson Institute at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. The initiative aims to establish AI hubs to drive industrial modernization, job creation, and equitable economic participation across both regions.

Early plans include training centres, semiconductor fabrication and data infrastructure linking Africa’s mining resources with Caribbean logistical networks. Former Jamaican PM P.J. Patterson and Nigerian ex‑President Obasanjo emphasized the need for digital sovereignty and generative AI leadership grounded in local talent and resources

Why It Matters:

This pilot represents a bold move toward technological self‑determination for Africa and the Caribbean. By building local AI ecosystems, training infrastructure, and regional collaboration, the initiative turns these regions from mere resource suppliers into creators and innovators in the global AI economy.

MTN launches Genova to drive AI innovation in Africa

MTN Genova, MTN’s AI-powered innovation hub, has launched with a mission to support responsible AI development across Africa. The initiative will:

• Offer expert training, mentorship, and access to advanced tools for African entrepreneurs.

• Host AI sandbox environments and host hackathons to encourage experimentation and solution building.

• Collaborate with universities and research institutes to align innovation with regional needs.

Why This Matters

MTN Genova signals Africa’s growing commitment to homegrown AI innovation with a responsible and community-focused approach. By equipping local talent and fostering collaboration, the initiative strengthens the continent’s ability to develop context-specific AI tools that address real social and economic challenges.

Around the world

Perplexity Launches AI Browser 'Comet'

 Perplexity has unveiled Comet, a new AI-powered web browser designed to enhance user search with conversational answers, real-time citations, and a chat-first interface.

Microsoft Reallocates $500M in AI Savings

Just days after laying off 9,000 employees, Microsoft revealed it is distributing $500 million in internal AI-related cost savings to fund new initiatives and boost efficiency.

Around the Web - Top Picks

• The Hidden Cost of AI Convenience

  As AI tools become more integrated into everyday tasks, concerns are growing around what we may be losing in the process. This thought-provoking article explores how offloading thinking to AI can reduce our cognitive effort, weaken critical thinking, and create subtle dependencies. It raises key questions about balancing AI convenience with human decision-making.

  Read the full piece: The Hidden Cost of AI Convenience

• AI-Generated Voices and Political Impersonation

  A new report reveals that AI-generated voice technology was used to impersonate U.S. Senator Marco Rubio and foreign officials in an effort to influence a journalist. The incident highlights how accessible AI tools can be misused for political manipulation and deception, raising fresh concerns around authentication and trust in digital communications.

  Read the full article: Impostor AI Used to Mimic Senator Rubio and Foreign Officials

• 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

Seen This?

No doubt influencers can sometimes be a bit much, Chrome is definitely still going strong. This post features a demo of Perplexity’s Comet browser, which is quite impressive and demonstrates how companies are revolutionizing the search experience. OpenAI is also preparing to release its own browser.

Upcoming African AI Events

Deep Learning IndabaX Nigeria 2025
Date: 16 July – 17 July 2025
Location: Nigeria
Highlights: A local chapter of the Deep Learning Indaba. Premier AI research gathering in Africa, workshops, and networking with top ML researchers.
Link: Deep Learning IndabaX

AI Empowered
Date: 7 August – 8 August 2025
Location: Capetown, South Africa
Highlights: It features 40+ speakers and expects ~3,000 attendees. The focus is on practical AI adoption in business and the future of work, offering hands-on demos and discussions for non-technical leaders to engage with AI opportunities.
Link: AI Powered

Deep Learning Indaba 2025
Date: 17 August – 22 August 2025
Location: Rwanda
Highlights: Premier AI research gathering in Africa, workshops, and networking with top ML researchers.
Link: Deep Learning Indaba

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.

• Dangote Group  – Change Manager - AI & Digitization Initiatives, Nigeria, Onsite

• Dangote Group  – Project Manager - AI & Digitization Initiatives, Nigeria, Onsite

• Awarri – Senior AI Engineer, Remote

Use Case: Boost Your Productivity with AI function in Google Sheets

Google has introduced a new Gemini AI function in Sheets via Workspace Labs. This experimental tool helps users streamline tasks like summarizing survey responses, analyzing sentiment in feedback, drafting personalized emails from spreadsheet data, and translating text.

Clear prompts and referencing specific data ranges are key to getting the best results. Watch the full demo to learn more: Gemini AI in Sheets