In the next two months, Kigali will be the focal point as 1000 leaders from the global Artificial Intelligence (AI) ecosystem will gather from October 8 to 9, at Kigali Convention Centre, for Africa’s inaugural AI summit. This event, hosted by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Rwanda (C4IR Rwanda) in collaboration with the World Economic Forum (WEF), is set to advance an ambitious vision for Africa’s leadership in the age of Al. The two-day summit will attract a diverse range of participants, including heads of state, ministers, industry leaders, startups, investors, multilateral institutions, civil society, and academic experts. Together, they will engage in a collaborative dialogue on AI’s transformative potential in shaping Africa’s future. Hosted under the theme, “AI and Africa's Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa's Workforce”, the high-level summit underlines the urgency of leveraging AI to boost the productivity of its youthful workforce, unlock new economic opportunities, and foster inclusive growth on the African continent. ALSO READ: Make Artificial Intelligence work for Africa – Kagame Notably, Africa is home to the fastest-growing workforce as it positions itself as a key player in the global AI agenda. However, maximising the benefits of AI while mitigating its risks will require multi-stakeholder engagement and inclusive dialogue. This summit aims to promote an ambitious vision for Africa's leadership in the AI era, focusing on practical insights, collaboration, and innovative AI applications. During the summit, participants will have the chance to engage with cutting-edge technologies and contribute to an actionable roadmap for the continent. The ultimate goal is to turn these discussions into tangible actions that will positively impact Africa’s industries, economies, and societies. ALSO READ: A first as humanoid robots field questions from reporters at AI summit What’s on the agenda? The Summit will explore how AI can be leveraged to create inclusive economic opportunities, drive innovation, and enhance workforce skills across Africa. It is structured around seven key thematic areas: People - Addressing jobs, skills, and talent mobility in the global AI economy. Infrastructure - Tackling barriers to adoption and laying the groundwork for the future. Data - Emphasising the strategic importance of adoption, equity, and sovereignty. AI Models - Identifying gaps and opportunities for inclusive development, with a focus on language, culture, and context. AI Applications - Promoting equitable, human-centric use cases to transform industries, economies, and societies. Entrepreneurship - Strengthening ecosystems of talent, knowledge, and capital to scale innovation-driven enterprises. Governance - Building trust and protecting citizens to foster investment, innovation, and development. “By 2030, AI stands to add $15 trillion to the global economy, and at least an additional 6 per cent to Africa’s GDP. Maximising the tremendous benefits will require Africa’s leaders to navigate complex economic, social, and geostrategic dynamics, and a shared vision for Africa’s leadership in the age of AI,” according to the C4IR Rwanda. The Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Rwanda (C4IR Rwanda) helps stakeholders harness the potential of technological advancements to transform industries, economies, and societies in an equitable and human-centred way. As a global platform for multi-stakeholder dialogue and cooperation, C4IR Rwanda explores exponential technologies and promotes their responsible adoption and application, leveraging a global network of 19 independent national and thematic centres.
