S. Korea, Africa hold complementary strengths in AI era: AfDB president

SEOUL, Sept. 9 (Yonhap) -- The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) president Sidi Ould Tah has expressed optimism about the potential for collaboration between South Korea and Africa in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). During a press conference in Seoul on the sidelines of the Korea-Africa Economic Cooperation (KOAFEC) meeting, Tah highlighted several key strengths that the two regions can leverage for mutual benefit.

Tah noted that Africa boasts a youthful population, with one person in four expected to be African by 2050. The continent also possesses a significant portion of the world's minerals, particularly the critical minerals required for the energy transition and the development of AI technologies. South Korea, on the other hand, has a decades-long track record of transforming itself from a developing country into a donor nation, providing a valuable template for Africa's own development journey.

The AfDB president emphasized that South Korea's expertise in harnessing AI technologies and developing tailored solutions to address development challenges can be shared with Africa. He stressed that Africa seeks to expand its partnerships with South Korea and prioritize AI at the top of their agenda, through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and joint investment initiatives.

Tah outlined several areas where cooperation could lead to transformative outcomes for Africa and mutual benefits for both parties. These include building AI infrastructure, creating an enabling environment for AI development, and introducing necessary regulations to ensure AI's safe and beneficial impact on the African population.

The African Development Bank Group's 20th-anniversary KOAFEC meeting marks a significant milestone in the longstanding partnership between South Korea and African nations.