With the world racing ahead in artificial intelligence (AI), African leaders are sounding the alarm: adapt now or risk deepening the continent’s digital divide. That was the dominant message at the opening of the first-ever Global AI Summit on Africa, where calls rang out for inclusive AI development, digital equity, and bold investments in innovation.

Hosted in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, the summit brought together over 1,000 participants from more than 90 countries, including tech entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers. The focus was clear Africa must not only catch up with global AI advances but must also shape its own path forward.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame warned that the cost of inaction could be steep. "Let's continue working together and driving AI to reduce inequality, allowing more of our citizens to benefit from the good AI can deliver to all of us,” He said. 

Highlighting the risks of uneven AI benefits, Togolese President Faure Gnassingbe stressed the need for inclusive strategies. “AI should not only serve a connected urban minority while leaving out informal workers and young people in rural areas who lack access to technology," he said.

Both leaders pointed to key sectors such as health, education, and agriculture as priority areas where AI could transform livelihoods if deployed thoughtfully and ethically.

Rwanda’s Minister of ICT and Innovation, Paula Ingabire, emphasized that responsible AI development must walk hand-in-hand with regulation. “For us, these two things must coexist. It's not about choosing one or the other." She said, referencing Rwanda’s national AI policy, which sets ethical standards to ensure fairness and accountability.

Held under the theme “AI and Africa’s Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Workforce,” the summit aims to spark long-term collaboration and investment in African AI. 

The two-day event includes a showcase of over 100 African AI companies, a research colloquium, and an investment roundtable, all geared toward unlocking the continent’s digital potential.