Africa’s AI Revolution : artificial intelligence, the continent’s new engine of growth
A report by the African Development Bank projects up to $1 trillion in additional GDP by 2035 if Africa deploys artificial intelligence in an inclusive way. Agriculture, industry, finance or health: AI could transform productivity and accelerate more equitable growth—provided action is taken quickly and several structural constraints are addressed.
Africa could be one of the major winners of the global artificial intelligence revolution. This is the central message of a report published on December 12, 2025 by the African Development Bank, entitled Africa’s AI Productivity Gain: Pathways to Labour Efficiency, Economic Growth and Inclusive Transformation. Developed within the framework of the G20 Digital Transformation Working Group, the study lays out a strategic roadmap to harness the economic and social potential of AI on the continent.
Produced by the consulting firm Bazara Tech, the analysis estimates that an inclusive deployment of artificial intelligence could generate up to $1 trillion in additional GDP by 2035—nearly one third of the continent’s current economic output. An ambitious projection, but one the AfDB considers credible in light of Africa’s demographic, digital and sectoral dynamics.
Growth driven by key sectors
Rather than a uniform diffusion of AI across the economy, the report shows that gains will be highly concentrated in a few high-impact sectors. Five priority areas alone would account for 58% of the expected benefits, or around $580 billion by 2035.
Agriculture comes first, with 20% of potential gains. AI is seen as a major lever to improve yields, optimize irrigation, anticipate climate risks and strengthen food security. This is followed by wholesale and retail trade (14%), where AI can transform logistics, inventory management and customer relations. Manufacturing and Industry 4.0 would represent 9% of gains, ahead of finance and financial inclusion (8%) and health and life sciences (7%).
According to the report, these sectors combine three decisive strengths: significant economic weight, a real capacity to adopt AI technologies, and strong potential for inclusive impact, particularly in terms of jobs and essential services.
Investing now to capture the AI dividend
For the African Development Bank, the issue is no longer theoretical. “In this report, we have identified the key actions and the areas where implementation must begin as a priority,” explains Nicholas Williams, Manager of the ICT Operations Division at the AfDB. “The Bank is ready to mobilize investments to support these actions. We expect the private sector and governments to take ownership of them in order to generate the identified productivity gains and create quality jobs.”
This approach reflects a shift in perspective: AI is no longer seen as a technological luxury, but as a strategic development tool capable of supporting the structural transformation of African economies.
Five pillars to succeed in the AI revolution
The report stresses that AI’s potential cannot be realized without a solid foundation of prerequisites. Five interconnected factors are identified as essential: data, compute capacity, skills, trust and capital.
Reliable and interoperable data form the basis of any high-performing AI solution. This must be complemented by scalable computing infrastructure, essential for large-scale deployment. The development of local skills is also central, to design, maintain and adapt AI systems to African realities. Trust—built on appropriate governance and regulatory frameworks—conditions adoption by citizens and businesses. Finally, access to capital is deemed crucial to reduce innovation-related risks and accelerate scaling.
Taken together, these levers should, according to the report, “foster a virtuous cycle of AI-driven growth.”
A three-phase roadmap
To structure this scaling-up, the AfDB proposes a three-phase trajectory. The initial phase (2025–2027) aims to lay the institutional and technical foundations. The consolidation phase (2028–2031) should anchor use cases and broaden sectoral deployments. Finally, the scaling phase (2032–2035) seeks to fully diffuse AI’s benefits across the entire economy.
“Reaching the first milestones as early as 2026 will set Africa’s AI flywheel in motion,” emphasizes Ousmane Fall, Director of Industrial and Commercial Development at the AfDB. “Africa’s challenge is no longer knowing what to do, but doing it on time.”
A matter of competitiveness and sovereignty
Beyond the numbers, the report raises a strategic question: Africa’s place in tomorrow’s global economy. By mastering artificial intelligence, the continent can not only boost productivity, but also strengthen its technological sovereignty, reduce certain dependencies and offer solutions tailored to its own challenges.
Africa’s AI revolution is therefore not just a promise of growth. It is also a test of coordination between states, financial institutions, the private sector and innovation ecosystems. The potential is there; what remains is to turn this vision into concrete reality.
