New research examining artificial-intelligence readiness across sub-Saharan Africa highlights large disparities between countries in terms of infrastructure, education and policy frameworks. The study compares multiple nations using indicators such as digital connectivity, computing infrastructure, AI education programs and government policy support. According to the analysis, Mauritius and South Africa currently rank among the most prepared economies in the region, while several countries including Zambia and Uganda lag behind due to limited digital infrastructure and smaller technology ecosystems. Namibia sits somewhere in the middle of this readiness spectrum. Researchers emphasize that the uneven distribution of AI capacity reflects broader structural challenges across Africa’s digital economy. Countries with stronger universities, technology industries and data infrastructure are able to develop AI ecosystems more quickly than those still building foundational digital systems. The study suggests that investment in AI education, regional research networks and cross-border cooperation could help reduce these disparities over the coming decade.
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