Artificial Intelligence as a catalyst for poverty alleviation in Africa: challenges, opportunities, and pathways for inclusion

Abstract

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers much hope as a poverty alleviation tool in Africa, with the potential to address critical challenges across sectors such as agriculture and education. This article explores how AI-driven solutions can optimise resource allocation, improve service delivery, and empower Africa's marginalised populations, thus creating pathways for poverty reduction and fostering inclusive growth. Underpinned by a critical document analysis research strategy, this article examines the opportunities and risks of AI integration in Africa. It also proposes some policy recommendations to ensure equitable and sustainable deployment. The article argues that leveraging AI offers potential to improve food production, information, enhance credit access, alleviate food insecurity, address energy poverty, and promote financial inclusion. However, it also shows that integrating AI introduces new challenges, such as job displacement, increased energy consumption, and deeper economic imbalances. The article contributes to the global discourse on harnessing advanced technologies to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 1: Ending Poverty in All Its Forms Everywhere.