Africa needs balanced AI policies, meeting hears

Experts call for thoughtful regulation after African Union releases draft artificial intelligence roadmap

Africans must ensure their data are represented and protected in the global artificial intelligence boom—and the continent must avoid becoming a “cheap” data market or mere AI consumer, a conference has heard.

The call for action was issued during a session on the implications of data and AI regulations for Africa, held at the Africa-Europe Science Collaboration and Innovation Platform Forum in Brussels last week. It followed the release of a draft African white paper and roadmap on AI regulation in February.