Africa needs cheaper AI to reap economic gains, says Enzi’s Udezue
Udezue said reducing the cost of inference, the process through which AI models generate responses and perform tasks, was essential to making the technology affordable for businesses and individuals across the continent.
Oji Udezue, president of Enzi, argued that Africa's potential to reap economic gains from artificial intelligence (AI) hinges on reducing the cost of using AI technology. According to Udezue, making AI more affordable is crucial for businesses and individuals across the continent to adopt the technology. "Our goal is to make AI cheaper for Africa and America," he stated. He emphasized that the future of AI should focus on the economics of utilizing AI models rather than merely creating more powerful ones.
Udezue highlighted the recurring expense of using AI, as costs can become a barrier for businesses that employ AI to handle customer inquiries or assist employees. These costs can determine whether a promising AI application becomes viable for everyday use. He pointed out the significant gap between the cost of using AI and what many Africans earn, warning that access to the technology is meaningless if people cannot afford to use it consistently.
The affordability of AI applications is essential for their commercial viability. A service that is too expensive to use throughout the workday or with thousands of customers may not be practical. Lowering inference costs—the process through which AI models generate responses and perform tasks—could make those applications more commercially practical.
While affordability is a key factor, Udezue also emphasized that accessibility is just one part of a broader infrastructure challenge. The World Bank's Digital Progress and Trends report identifies connectivity, computing resources, locally relevant data, and digital skills as foundational elements for AI adoption in Africa. To fully benefit from AI, African developers need systems and capabilities that enable the technology to work in local languages and cater to the specific needs of the population.
Udezue stressed the importance of practical demonstrations to showcase what developers can achieve with cheaper AI services. His focus was on turning technological improvements into affordable tools for everyday use. The ultimate economic test, he argued, is whether AI becomes affordable enough to support routine work across a wider market. While more capable models may expand the technology's capabilities, the cost of running them will determine who can actually benefit from it.
Written by urgent.news from TechCabal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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