MICROSOFT WARNS TRUST DEFICIT COULD LIMIT AFRICA’S AI GAINS

Microsoft has warned that Africa’s ability to benefit fully from artificial intelligence could be limited by a growing trust deficit surrounding AI systems, data security, and digital infrastructure.

The company’s Head of Government Affairs for Africa, Akua Gyekye, said the conversation has moved beyond whether African countries will adopt AI to whether they can use the technology responsibly, confidently, and at scale.

The African Development Bank estimates that inclusive AI development and deployment could generate up to $1 trillion in additional GDP across Africa by 2035, with agriculture, manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, and retail expected to account for a significant share of the gains.

However, Africa continues to face gaps in digital infrastructure, computing capacity, skills, capital, and access. Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report also found that generative AI usage among working-age populations was 15.4 per cent in the Global South, compared with 27.5 per cent in the Global North.

Gyekye said trust must be built into AI development from the beginning, particularly as businesses and governments increasingly use the technology for sensitive operations.

She also called for interoperable AI systems, stronger data protection, local talent development, and regulatory frameworks that encourage innovation without compromising security.

Microsoft said Africa must move beyond simply consuming AI products developed elsewhere and build greater local capacity in data, research, infrastructure, and technology.

The company stressed that responsible AI adoption should be viewed not only as a governance issue but also as a strategy for unlocking sustainable economic growth across the continent.