Numerous opportunities in healthcare, education, and employment are presented by the rapid rise of emerging technologies. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a critical factor in the socio-economic advancement of Africa, as it contributes to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
AI promotes growth and innovation in critical sectors, including finance, agriculture, and healthcare, with a potential economic impact of $1.5 trillion (6 percent of GDP).
Predictive Analytics of Migration Drivers and Flows
AI systems can analyze large datasets (climate data, economic indicators, conflict events, and demographic dynamics) to forecast migration flows or hotspots of displacement.
For instance, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlights in its 2022 World Migration Report that AI is used in “every phase of migration … from administrative processing … to surveillance of irregular migration and algorithms for refugee resettlement”.
A national government uses AI-driven climate-risk maps and livelihood-vulnerability indices to identify rural districts likely to trigger migration. They then channel development support (jobs, irrigation, microfinance) to those districts proactively.
Regional migration coalition uses AI-powered chatbots in local languages to explain legal migration pathways, warn of smuggling risks, provide information to youth thinking of migrating irregularly.
• Border-region authorities implement smart sensors + AI analytics to monitor informal crossings, while simultaneously investing in local economic hubs on the other side of the border (so migration becomes a choice, not the only option).
• Returnee reintegration programs use AI to match returnees’ skills with local job openings, track outcomes, and refine support services accordingly.
Melody Musoni, a digital governance and digital economy policy officer at the European Centre for Development Policy Management spoke on AI usage in Africa: “I would say we have two camps, two groups of people. We have pessimists, and of course we have optimists. So with pessimists, they’re really concerned about this whole AI hype and looking at actually who is pushing for this AI and AI revolution in Africa. And of course, it’s mainly the big tech that is trying to drive profits, and a lot of this conversation around AI development are being framed through that lens.”
Reducing Push Factors in the Field of Agriculture
If one of the drivers of migration is lack of opportunity, poor infrastructure or extreme climate events, AI can help strengthen local resilience. There are studies showing AI’s role in sustainable agricultural development in Africa (precision farming, crop monitoring), which can reduce rural distress. It’s a well-known fact that the continent has been and will continue to be disproportionately affected by climate change, despite only contributing a reported 2 to 4 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Particularly concerning is the fact that, on average, countries on the continent are losing 2 to 5 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP), with some having to divert up to 9 percent of their budgets in response to climate extremes, per the State of the Climate in Africa 2023 report by the World Meteorological Organization.
The report goes on to state that in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the cost of adaptation is estimated to range from $30 billion to $50 billion annually over the next decade, or 3 percent of the region’s GDP.
Technologies powered by AI in agriculture support smart farming practices, such as precision agriculture, which improves resource utilization and increases crop yields. AI’s role in monitoring soil and crop health, conducting predictive analyses for pest and disease management, and automating machinery enhances farming operations’ efficiency and sustainability.
In Ghana, an agricultural company uses AI to deliver weather and market info plus farming advice to over 1.7 million farmers, boosting productivity. Through its Mergdata platform, Farmline has reached over 1.7 million farmers, boosting their productivity by an estimated 30 percent.
Now, robots are on their way to East African farms. The deployment of robotic farm workers and corresponding “smart” systems is being enthusiastically lauded as the clear solution for improving crop yields, strengthening food security, generating GDP growth, and combating poverty.
The Barriers of AI Usage
However, this transformative progress comes at a dual cost—substantial financial expenditures and significant environmental impact. The energy consumption required to train and run increasingly large AI models is rapidly escalating, raising profound concerns about long-term sustainability and equitable accessibility. For AI to serve as a tool for global progress, we must prioritize enhanced efficiency across all facets of its development and deployment, making it more cost-effective, environmentally responsible, and accessible to a broader spectrum of users, regardless of their resources.
One of AI’s most pressing challenges is its financial burden, a barrier to adoption and innovation. Training state-of-the-art AI models often incurs costs in the tens of millions of dollars, necessitating the use of vast computational infrastructure that only a select few can afford.
These exorbitant costs make AI development an exclusive domain for the wealthiest corporations and well-funded research institutions, severely limiting broader innovation and democratizing AI technologies. The pursuit of AI efficiency holds particular significance for Africa, a continent with immense potential but often constrained by limited resources.
The high costs associated with traditional AI development pose a significant barrier to African nations seeking to leverage these technologies for their development. Efficient AI solutions can democratize access, enabling African researchers, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to utilize AI for critical applications such as agricultural optimization, healthcare delivery, and climate resilience.
The accurate measure of AI’s success should not be its sheer size or complexity, but rather its inherent intelligence—and true intelligence inherently demands efficiency, resourcefulness, and sustainability. By developing more innovative, more efficient AI, we can build a future where technology is both profoundly powerful and environmentally sustainable, ensuring its benefits are accessible to all.
