Leaders | Africa 2.0

How to ensure Africa is not left behind by the AI revolution

Weak digital infrastructure is holding the continent back

African workers on the roof, installing fiber optic cable
Photograph: Getty Images

More than two decades ago The Economist calculated that all of Africa had less international bandwidth than Brazil. Alas, until 2023 that was still true. Africa’s lack of connectivity is one reason its people could miss out on the benefits promised by artificial intelligence (AI).

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Africa 2.0”

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From the July 27th 2024 edition

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