During a recent conference centred on Nigeria’s artificial intelligence (AI) strategy, it was announced that Nigeria and the United States are committed to working together to promote the digital economy and new technologies like artificial intelligence. Arthur Brown, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy in Abuja, stated that the U.S. government will assist Nigeria in building infrastructure and fostering research and creativity to achieve this goal. In his address at the National AI Strategy Workshop, Brown emphasized the importance of forming stronger alliances and collaborating on initiatives and regulations that will stimulate strong, adaptable, and diverse economic progress.
Within the next two weeks, the American government will partner with Nigeria to co-host the U.S.-Nigeria Bi-National Commission, fulfilling its commitment. This gathering will facilitate the meeting of Nigeria’s top officials with prominent U.S. government figures, with a focus on AI. Brown emphasized that the event scheduled to be held in Lagos will strengthen the connections between our economies, aiming for further growth. Our goal is to ensure that the governance of Al is aligned in order to guarantee a safe, secure, transparent, and trustworthy deployment of Al, Brown added.
Artificial intelligence advancement in Africa is led by Nigeria.
He said ever since the emergence of ChatGPT, the U.S administration has been actively pushing for the implementation of safe and reliable artificial intelligence. This upcoming event in Nigeria will further emphasize their dedication to this cause. Key initiatives have involved securing commitments to transparency in AI development from industry giants like Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL), OpenAI, Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Anthropic, and other major players. The government has refrained from advocating for specific laws to regulate AI development, opting instead to trust in the cooperation of large corporations. The most significant action taken was an executive order in October that implemented fresh standards.
Speaking at the event, Bosun Tijani of Nigeria’s Minister of Communications Innovation and Digital Economy urged African nations to collaborate in AI advancements. By presenting a united front, Africa can empower its entrepreneurs and innovators to thrive in the market. Nigeria remains at the forefront of artificial intelligence progress on the continent. The country’s most recent advancement involves the introduction of the Nigerian Multilingual Large Language Model, designed to incorporate accented English and five additional local languages in order to promote inclusivity within the field.
Government aims to effectively implement AI solutions.
A recent report from the Africa Fintech Summit (AFTS) uncovered a growing number of Fintech companies in Nigeria integrating Artificial Intelligence into their content creation processes. The report highlights a rising trend in the adoption of generative AI, with 29% of surveyed fintech firms already utilizing this technology for content creation. This indicates a clear interest in exploring new and innovative marketing strategies among Nigerian fintech companies. Plans have been unveiled by the Federal Government to collaborate with 120 Nigerian researchers and start-ups, as well as other stakeholders in the field of Artificial Intelligence, in order to establish a joint framework for the tech implementation within the nation.
By developing a strategic plan during the session, the government aims to effectively implement AI solutions that will improve quality of life and boost economic growth. The government’s focus on prioritizing artificial intelligence is driven by its belief in the technology’s ability to enhance productivity and accelerate progress in key sectors. Projections suggest that the artificial intelligence market could reach a value of US$1.05 billion by 2024. By 2030, the market is projected to reach a volume of US$4.64 billion, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR 2024-2030) of 28.10%.
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In line with nationwide efforts to boost the tech’s adoption, Nigeria is actively working on establishing a policy to regulate the integration of Artificial Intelligence. Nigeria’s focused efforts demonstrate the country’s dedication to utilizing the tech for sustainable progress, encouraging innovation, increasing national productivity, and improving human well-being. The country is on track to emerge as a frontrunner in AI within Africa, distinguishing itself by prioritizing investments in talent, AI technology, and computer infrastructure – a unique strategy among its African counterparts.
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