Chapter 8: Unlocking the Potential - Africa's AI and GenAI Journey

Artificial intelligence (AI) stands as a transformative force shaping the future. Working with incredible senior executives in the technology sector and beyond, I’m engaged in pivotal conversations about Africa's readiness to accelerate its AI and Gen AI journey. It's not merely a technological advancement; it's a journey we must take for the opportunities and challenges it brings.

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Investing in Women, this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, is a critical part of this future and topical after my conversation with Lisel Engelbrecht , Women in AI's Chief Data and Analytics Officer (CDAO), who pointed out that there’s an interest from women to be in AI and the various pillars that can support their journey into the industry. She is pushing beyond women to include minorities. Look out for the BCG tech report coming out in May, highlighting the key elements of AI and Gen AI adoption amongst this cohort that is greater than for that cohort than it has ever been for any technologies.

1. The Landscape: Women in AI Network

A significant sign of Africa's readiness for the AI journey is the substantial community of Women in AI based on the African continent, indicating a burgeoning interest and engagement with digital technologies. One-third of their community is found in Africa, in countries including South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Botswana, highlighting the continent's potential to harness the power of AI for its growth and development.

According to an upcoming report from our 波士顿谘询公司 team, women in senior tech functions are taking the lead in GenAI adoption, surpassing men by 14 percentage points. This creates a significant opportunity to close the gender gap in the tech industry. However, early-career women and those outside tech functions still face challenges in adopting GenAI.

2. Women & Minorities in AI: Breaking Barriers, Unleashing Talent?

In a recent conversation with Lisel Engelbrecht, we've delved into the challenges and opportunities for women and minorities in the AI landscape. Diversity is the key to innovation, and ensuring equal opportunities for all is crucial.

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In Africa, stereotypes persist, particularly in South Africa, where fields like mining are historically male-dominated, limiting the visibility of women in certain industries. Additionally, there is a prevailing fear that AI might displace jobs, hindering the pursuit of careers. However, the Women in AI communities in Africa, ranking third-largest globally, indicate a vast pool of untapped talent. Overcoming these challenges requires encouragement, mentorship, and recommendations to women and minorities to communicate and make themself visible. As Lisel Engelbrecht notes too, breaking down barriers to pave the way for a diverse and inclusive AI landscape.

3. GenAI in Mining & Skill Challenges

Mining is one sector where AI and Gen AI can significantly contribute to operation effectiveness, supply chains, and environmental sustainability. Addressing the carbon footprint needs a multi-faceted approach combining data, regulations and compliance practices. The interest and willingness to adopt AI solutions and upgrade the level of technology that has been steered by safety regulation initially is palpable, indicating a growing appetite for transformative technologies in Africa.

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Last month, we held our highly anticipated Horizons event at the BCG Johannesburg Office, "How People Can Create and Destroy Value with Generative AI." Attendees gained a deeper understanding of balancing individual performance with collective creativity by leveraging AI, according to the latest results from a BCG study. An unexpected finding around Gen AI skill acquisition and volume of training the study also presented; the more people are trained in Gen AI, the worse the result in terms of performance due to potentially too much confidence in Gen AI results for analysis purposes.

Those present participated in an amazing Q&A session on responsible GenAI, prompt engineering, and HR-related topics; it was a great event that showcased interest in our exploration of GenAI together.

Collaborative Momentum for a Brighter Future

Africa stands at the threshold of an AI revolution, and the momentum is building. The challenges are real, but so are the opportunities. By fostering inclusivity, breaking down gender and minority barriers, and strategically implementing AI in sectors like mining, Africa can embrace the AI journey and lead the way towards a more sustainable and innovative future. I’m incredibly optimistic about Africa's potential and excited.

Olivier Granet , Arnaud Blanchet , Clive N. , Daclin Woods , Shikar Manichand