21 May 2025
The path for AI in poor nations does not need to be paved with billions
Researchers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are proving that developing home-grown artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is possible without massive external investments.
Recently, Saudi Arabia announced a large-scale AI initiative with state backing and strong involvement from US tech firms. This move highlights the global spread of AI ambitions beyond the established hubs in the US, China, and Europe.
Yet, as reports from Nature India, Nature Africa, and Nature Middle East show, fostering AI locally does not require billions of dollars or exclusive reliance on Western or Chinese partnerships.
As AI giants duel, the Global South builds its own brainpower
Saudi Arabia has launched an AI company named HUMAIN, chaired by Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. Major US technology corporations are involved, though full details remain under wraps.
Big names like NVIDIA, Qualcomm, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are contributing resources. NVIDIA committed to supplying hundreds of thousands of advanced GPUs over five years. Qualcomm plans to build an AI data institute and a semiconductor design center, while AWS will provide AI infrastructure and train 100,000 people in AI and data science.
Despite these large-scale efforts, many LMIC initiatives focus on “scaling right” rather than just scaling up. They develop AI models suited to local users, languages, and social realities. Popular AI systems like ChatGPT and Google Gemini mainly train on European languages, limiting their effectiveness for speakers of Hindi, Arabic, Swahili, Xhosa, and many others.
LMICs are supporting home-grown AI by funding startups, launching AI education programs, building research and regulatory capacity, and engaging the public. However, most African Union and League of Arab States members have yet to establish formal AI strategies. This gap needs urgent attention.
Grow AI locally
India offers a clear example of what vision combined with moderate funding can achieve. The Department for Science and Technology funds BharatGen, an AI initiative led by IIT Bombay and other Indian Institutes of Technology. BharatGen creates language models trained on local data, enabling human-like conversations in Hindi, English, and other Indian languages.
This project emerged in response to government calls for AI research proposals, demonstrating how targeted support can spark innovation.
Africa leading the global effort for AI that works for all
South Africa is developing a national AI strategy centered on establishing dedicated research centers, funding scientists and startups, and improving public understanding of AI technologies.
Public awareness is essential as AI becomes more common, helping people appreciate AI’s benefits while recognizing its potential pitfalls, like incorrect outputs.
For instance, dairy farmers in Kenya used machine vision to detect diseases in cows but found the software misdiagnosed healthy cattle because it was trained on breeds like Angus and Hereford, unlike the local breeds. This mismatch eroded trust in the technology, highlighting the need for transparency and locally relevant data.
According to a 2024 analysis, countries in Africa, South America, and Asia (excluding major players like China and Japan) produce less than 5% of global AI research. Saudi Arabia’s entry will shift this balance, but many other LMICs can make significant progress with modest funding for promising researchers.
Supporting local AI development is not about pouring in vast sums but about strategic investments that address local languages, cultures, and needs. This approach builds sustainable AI ecosystems that can benefit communities directly.
For those interested in deepening their AI skills and contributing to such initiatives, exploring targeted AI courses can be a practical step. Resources like Complete AI Training's latest AI courses offer relevant learning paths tailored to various skill levels and job roles.
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