East Africa is strengthening its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure with the goal of developing an African AI economy.

Mobile network operator Safaricom has announced it is investing US$500 million in the region’s AI sector, reports TechAfrica News.

‘From powering AI-ready data centres to enabling real-time agricultural insights and digital financial services, [Safaricom] is building the digital infrastructure that will power Africa’s intelligent economy,’ the company’s chief enterprise business officer, Cynthia Kropac, said at the Connected Africa Summit 2025 in Diani, Kenya.

She emphasised that the continent should build its own AI framework and move from being a passive consumer of AI products, to becoming an active creator.

‘The question is no longer whether Africa will be AI ready, it’s whether the world is ready for African AI,’ she said.

She said the investment will go towards empowering local developers and enterprises, to build AI solutions for sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, and financial services, according to Africa Business Communities.

Kropac noted the company had already trained more than 5 000 employees in AI fundamentals.

3 June 2025
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