Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Leapfrogging Potential in Africa

The document argues that AI represents a frontier for technological leapfrogging in Africa, capable of bypassing traditional constraints in education, healthcare, and governance. It highlights the potential for inclusive AI deployment to add US$ 1 trillion to the continent's GDP by 2035, particularly in sectors like agriculture and finance. A key example is provided by the South African Revenue Service (SARS), which uses AI to shift tax administration from reactive enforcement to proactive compliance. However, the document notes that realizing this potential requires addressing gaps in computing infrastructure, digital skills, and regulatory frameworks. To support this, the AI 10 Billion Initiative aims to mobilize US$ 10 billion by 2035 to invest in AI infrastructure and skills, targeting the creation of up to 40 million jobs.

• Inclusive deployment of AI in Africa could increase the continent's GDP by as much as US$ 1 trillion by 2035, which represents nearly one-third of its current economic output. These gains are expected to be most prominent in the healthcare, finance, manufacturing, retail, and agriculture sectors.
• AI can facilitate leapfrogging by providing low-cost, scalable alternatives to traditional services in underserved areas, such as AI-enabled advisory systems for farmers and expanded access to diagnostics and personalized learning in healthcare and education. Additionally, AI chatbots on basic mobile platforms can lower data costs and improve information delivery compared to traditional web searches.
• In South Africa, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) demonstrates AI's potential in the public sector by using predictive analytics, data matching, and pattern recognition to detect tax evasion and prioritize audits, moving the system toward proactive compliance.
• The AI 10 Billion Initiative, launched by the African Development Bank Group and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Nairobi AI Forum 2026, seeks to mobilize US$ 10 billion by 2035. The initiative targets investments in policy frameworks, entrepreneurship, skills development, and AI infrastructure to potentially unlock 40 million jobs.
• Despite the potential, AI adoption is uneven; while over 40% of African institutions have experimented with AI, significant gaps remain in governance, education, and infrastructure that could increase existing inequalities.

APA

Yeboua, K. (2026). Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Leapfrogging Potential in Africa. Institute for Security Studies. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=06-artificial-intelligence

Chicago

Yeboua, Kouassi. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Leapfrogging Potential in Africa. Institute for Security Studies, 2026. https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=06-artificial-intelligence.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yeboua |first1=Kouassi |title=Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Leapfrogging Potential in Africa |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=25 May 2026 |url=https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=06-artificial-intelligence |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yeboua2026artificial, author = {Yeboua, Kouassi}, title = {{Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Leapfrogging Potential in Africa}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://futures.issafrica.org/thematic/guide.pdf?thematic=09-leapfrog&topic=06-artificial-intelligence}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }