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Marrakech – The GITEX Africa Digital Summit, a key highlight of the second edition of GITEX Africa Morocco, kicked off today with a strong focus on the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on Africa’s national economies.
The summit, which is part of the continent’s premier technology and start-up event, brings together over 450 speakers from 70 countries to tackle pressing challenges and explore emerging opportunities in Africa’s tech sector.
Experts at the summit estimate that the AI boom could add $1.2 trillion to Africa’s economy by 2030, boosting the continent’s GDP by 5.6 percent. As AI becomes increasingly accessible to a wider audience, thanks to user-friendly tools like ChatGPT, the conference emphasizes the importance of ensuring that its benefits are distributed equally across society.
Lavina Ramkissoon, a technology and data expert from the United Nations University Centre of Policy Research (UNU-CPR) in South Africa, stressed in her remarks at the summit the need for innovative solutions to bridge the digital divide. “To make sure that AI benefits everyone, we need to come up with amazing innovations,” she stated.
Ramkissoon, known as the “AI Mom,” highlighted that 3 million people in the continent remain unconnected, emphasizing the importance of incorporating AI in domains such as personalized healthcare to drive technological evolution.
Juergen Rahmel, a lecturer at the University of Hong Kong and head of digital technology and innovation at HSBC Hong Kong SAR, also shared his insights, cautioning against attributing human-like rights to AI, despite its transformative potential. “We can never incorporate AI and let it have rights as humans,” he asserted.
The GITEX Africa Digital Summit features ten conference stages, set to offer more than 280 hours of thought-provoking content over the next few days. Various topics that will be covered include government policy and regulation, connectivity, digital cities, future finance, cybersecurity, and health tech.
The summit aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and investment in Africa’s burgeoning tech sector, accelerating the continent’s digital transformation journey.
GITEX Africa Morocco, now in its second edition, will run until May 31. The event has already witnessed a remarkable 70 percent surge in year-on-year growth, with over 1,500 exhibitors from more than 130 countries participating across 21 halls.
Organized by Kaoun International, the overseas affiliate of Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), in partnership with the Digital Development Agency (ADD) under the Moroccan Ministry of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, the event is a catalyst for public-private sector collaboration and investment in the continent’s thriving tech ecosystem.
The opening ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, including the Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, several government members, and prominent figures from various sectors, underlining the significance of the event in shaping Africa’s digital future.
GITEX Africa Morocco 2024 also serves as a platform for the continent’s booming start-up community, with more than 700 outstanding global start-ups from 45 countries, including 200 Moroccan start-ups, showcasing their innovations. These game-changers will connect with 350 investors from 35 countries, collectively managing $200 billion worth of assets, to attract investments and fuel the growth of Africa’s entrepreneurial innovation economy.
