Whether we like it or not, the age of artificial intelligence (AI) is already here, and accelerating. And Africa stands at a unique yet precarious juncture.

The question for us is not whether Africa should embrace AI, but how. The answer is, with a fierce, unyielding commitment to responsible AI development.

Historically, Africa has often been a consumer, not an originator, of technology. Yet, we have seen the consequences of systems designed with data trained on Western contexts then deployed in Africa. The result is often disastrous, and sometimes comical.

Think of facial recognition software that struggles with darker skin tones. Or agricultural AI models that fail to account for the unique crop varieties and farming practices found across the continent.

This is not just about a few bugs in the system. It is about a deep-seated philosophical problem. AI systems carry the biases of their creators and their data. When we passively adopt AI, we are importing a worldview that may not only be irrelevant to our needs but can actively entrench and amplify existing inequalities.

Our data becomes the raw material for foreign-owned models, and we are left with the finished product. A product that, let us face it, was not built for us. This is a new form of digital colonialism. Without ethical guardrails, AI risks amplifying existing inequalities, reinforcing biases, and erasing indigenous knowledge systems.

Furthermore, while we are not burdened by legacy systems or entrenched AI industries, we face significant challenges with infrastructure, data privacy, and digital literacy, undermining our ability to develop and scale AI solutions.

As the continent accelerates its digital transformation, the need to develop AI that is ethical, inclusive, and African-led has never been more urgent.

Strathmore University’s State of AI in Africa Report validates the need for responsible AI, stating that Africa’s ill-equipped policy frameworks, limited data infrastructure, and underrepresentation in global AI governance are a hindrance to AI development.

These gaps make the case for a distinctly African approach to AI development, one that prioritises data sovereignty, ethics, and community-driven innovation.

A golden opportunity to leapfrog

Our late entry into the AI race is not a weakness, it is our greatest strength. We have a chance to leapfrog the mistakes of others. While the West debates the ethical dilemmas of AI after the fact, we can build ethical considerations into our frameworks from the ground up.

This means more than just having a seat at the table. It means building our own table. We must invest in local talent, support homegrown startups, and cultivate data sets that are representative of our diverse populations and languages.

We must create AI systems that are not just for Africa but are also built by Africa. Imagine AI tools that speak Swahili, Setswana, or Yoruba, help small-scale farmers predict weather patterns with hyperlocal accuracy, or facilitate access to healthcare in remote communities. This is the promise of responsible AI.

The good news is, we are not starting from scratch. The African Union's Continental Artificial Intelligence Strategy is a key foundation, focusing on a "people-centric, development-oriented and inclusive approach.” Several African countries have begun developing national AI strategies and ethics frameworks. These efforts are aligned with the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy (2020–2030), Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024), and Agenda 2063, all of which emphasise inclusive innovation, regional leadership, and south-south collaboration.

Initiatives like the AI for Development, supported by the International Development Research Centre and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, are helping to build policy capacity and expand leadership across the continent. These partnerships underscore the importance of co-creating AI solutions with African actors, not imposing foreign models.

Building the foundations of responsible AI

To make responsible AI development a reality, we must move beyond aspirational statements. Governments, innovators, businesses, researchers, and civil society must work together to establish clear governance frameworks guided by principles of sovereignty, inclusivity, and justice protect data privacy.

We must invest in education and digital literacy to equip our youth with the skills to be not just consumers but creators and critics of AI.

The recent launch of the ACTS AI Institute, a dedicated hub for responsible AI development in Africa, is a timely response to this challenge. It signals a shift from passive consumption of foreign technologies to active leadership in shaping AI systems that reflect African values, languages, and priorities.

The ACTS AI Institute is developing an Africanised toolbox to guide scaling of responsible AI, ethical tailored to local contexts.

This toolbox reflects the lived realities of African communities and the urgent need for AI systems that are not only smart but also just.

This is a step toward reclaiming Africa’s voice in global technology governance. Toward designing AI that liberates rather than marginalise.

Toward building systems that reflect the continent’s values, not just its vulnerabilities. And in doing so, we must define what responsible AI means in our own terms, drawing from our philosophies, priorities, and people.

This is a monumental task, but the alternative is far more perilous. Either we take control of our AI future, or we become a passive testing ground for technologies that serve the interests of others.

The writer, Pauline Chepkoech Soy is a Communications & Outreach Officer | African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS)