Africa emerges as new arena in US-China competition over artificial intelligence

With a fast-growing digital economy and young population, the continent is becoming a critical front in the global race to shape AI's future. — SCMP

As China and the United States compete to shape the future of artificial intelligence, Africa’s rapidly expanding digital landscape is emerging as a new arena for their rivalry, far from the technology hubs of Silicon Valley or Shenzhen.

With a growing population, expanding internet access and linguistic diversity, Africa is increasingly seen as a critical region for AI development, according to analysts. Early infrastructure and platform decisions can shape the future of emerging technology markets, making Africa key to the next phase of global AI adoption.