Academic and other research institutions in Africa carry out much fundamental and applied scientific
research, but few as yet use artificial intelligence (AI). African science needs to take up AI methods. In the
absence of such methods, an increasing number of scientific disciplines at African institutions will border
on irrelevance. A greater use of AI in scientific research in Africa will bring numerous benefits, deepening
African science, broadening global research agendas and incentivising the location of corporate research
and development (R&D) labs. Ultimately, the use of AI in science will have spillover effects, helping to
upgrade the capabilities of civil society more broadly.
Cirrus and the AI Africa Consortium are a major response to the AI deficit in African science. They aim to
broaden researcher access to computing, data, engineering resources and trained students. Ultimately,
this will make AI for science feasible in numerous academic institutions across Africa – not just elite
academic institutions and large technology firms. In so doing, they will help commercialise research
findings. With human capital central to AI, online learning can play an important role in knowledge transfer
to Africa. 
