African governments are writing AI policy fast. A new council wants to make sure someone in the room asks what it means for ordinary people. The Africa Public Interest AI Council, convened by the Samawati Collective, was announced on 14 October, The Star reports.
Its six members bring expertise in journalism, governance, open technology, language AI, data infrastructure and fintech. The council will commission research, hold public discussions, send policy advice to governments and give public input on where philanthropic money for AI should go.
Why now
The African Union adopted its Continental AI Strategy in July 2024, when only six countries had standalone national AI strategies, according to the release. The strategy's first phase runs from 2025 to 2026, with a review due in 2027.
Language is one concern. Only four African languages, Amharic, Swahili, Afrikaans and Malagasy, got consistent coverage in the study the council cites. Elections are another. The release cites researchers who found 17 coordinated disinformation campaigns in Kenya in 2025, ahead of the 2027 general election.
"Plenty of expertise on infrastructure, investment, and regulation, and very little on what any of it means for ordinary people," said Maurice Otieno, co-founder and executive director of the Samawati Collective, according to The Star.
