Microsoft has called on governments in Africa to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) for youth empowerment and growth.

Microsoft said Africa has a unique opportunity to influence what the future of work looks like in these early days as large language learning models (LLMs) are evolving, and the environment for applications is still new.

The American technology firm, along with other industry experts, in the ‘AI and the Future of Work’ Africa whitepaper, noted that nearly one billion people in Africa are currently under the age of 35 with the continent projected to be home to almost half of the world’s youth population by the turn of the century, in effect making up half of the potential global workforce of the future.

While up to 12 million young Africans enter the labour market yearly, according to the International Labour Organisation, more than 20 per cent are neither in employment, education nor training.

On this, Chief Technology and Solutions Officer at Microsoft Africa, Ravi Bhat, said: “We see a significant role for generative AI to not only transform the work environment but also foster opportunities for the youth to create jobs, innovate and help drive economic growth and stability across the continent.”

According to the whitepaper, many expect generative AI to drastically change knowledge worker jobs, especially in terms of the type of work done, the skills required, and the outputs produced.

Before now, McKinsey research showed that generative AI (GenAI) could enable labour productivity growth of up to 0.6 per cent yearly through 2040, depending on the rate of technology adoption and the redeployment of worker time into other activities.
Director at Microsoft Research Africa, Jacki O’Neill, said: “Generative AI has significant potential to advance human capabilities.
“As more people across Africa get access to GenAI tools through their Internet-enabled devices and more affordable data, the barriers to access are being reduced and opportunities for skilling can increase.

“But it is not only information workers that stand to benefit from GenAI.”

According to Microsoft, the promise of GenAI to transform industries such as agriculture, healthcare, and services must be balanced by equipping the youth with the skills needed for an AI-disrupted labour market to ensure that they are not left behind in this technological shift.

“It is therefore important to build skills across the spectrum, from how to deploy and use GenAI tools effectively at work, to how to build appropriate and innovative applications and technologies on top of these models, to the post-graduate skills of research and innovation in machine learning, natural language processing, human-computer interaction, cybersecurity, and systems to name a few.

“Investing in this range of skills gives Africans the best opportunity to create dignified, appropriate jobs, to adapt AI sensitively to Indigenous knowledge, to create new value chains, and better AI systems which might reflect for example human-centred and community values. Such systems would add value globally and could counter typical tech-centric models of automation and deskilling,” O’Neill added.

Microsoft noted that with culturally and linguistically sensitive design, GenAI can become more tailored to individual workers, learning from interactions and becoming a personalised tool that respects the privacy and enhances each worker’s unique skills. It stressed that it can serve as a guide to foster inclusivity and showcase the diverse skills and abilities of African workers. GenAI can also be appropriated as a community-focused tool that supports collaborative work and communal development.

Microsoft said the technology can assist in decision-making, risk assessment, and data analysis, empowering entrepreneurs in their ventures. For the informal sector, tailored GenAI tools will elevate the capabilities of entrepreneurs, providing customised assistance for their unique needs.

According to the whitepaper, ensuring a beneficial outcome withGenAI involves proactive governance, inclusive design, investment in education, and a commitment to regulatory and ethical standards. This is a collective responsibility, requiring engagement from policymakers, technologists, and citizens alike.

“Technology alone cannot solve the challenges that our youthful continent faces. We need to create policies and practices to ensure that GenAI, and AI in general, is deployed responsibly with AI-related labour being valued and dignified. It requires the macro-economic, labour, and regulatory markets to adapt and be capable of supporting positive change,” Bhat added.