「经济学人」Africa 2.0

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Africa 2.0 How to ensure Africa is not left behind by the AI revolution Weak digital infrastructure is holding the continent back More than two decades ago The Economist calculated that all of Africa had less international bandwidth than Brazil. Alas, until 2023 that was still true. Africa’s lack of connectivity is one reason its people could miss out on the benefits promised by artificial intelligence (AI). For decades, experts have called for better broadband across Africa, citing the gains in productivity and employment. But the economic potential of AI, and its insatiable computing appetite, have renewed the case for urgent investment in the physical sinews needed to sustain a new digital revolution. Fortunately, Africa has a home-grown model it can emulate. Its embrace of mobile phones in the early 2000s was a stunning feat of economic liberalisation. In most parts of Africa, businesses and consumers used to have to wait years to get a fixed-line phone. Nigeria, which has Africa ………………………………