Key milestones offer markers for what is to come in the AI era

Thirty years later, people have a powerful computer in their back pocket – their smartphone, gamers across the globe can play together online, and technology is present in every facet of our lives.

Life as we know it has been transformed by crucial innovations at key moments, enabling technology to be more accessible to billions of people, and opening avenues toward a vibrant global digital economy.

These innovations have changed technology from something you use – hardware – to something that is accessible through many channels.

Today, the world is on the brink of another transformative era. Harnessing the power of AI, not only can companies and corporations introduce new efficiencies and speed of operations, but anyone with an idea can build something, opening the door for non-technical people to get involved in the technology world, from anywhere in the world.

Harnessing local skills, ideas, innovation and know-how, entrepreneurs and companies can stoke the fires of a global AI economy. So, what can we learn from previous key innovations that changed the landscape?

A pivotal moment in the tech industry was the move to the cloud. With this evolution, it was no longer about hardware, it was about solutions.

The adoption of cloud technology provided scalable, cost-effective solutions that are accessible to individuals and enterprises of all sizes.

Read: AI in business: Moving from hype to real transformation

This would not have been possible without the development of critical infrastructure including improved broadband connectivity and the establishment of datacentres to provide cloud access.

The focus of hyperscale cloud providers on developing data centres early on played a critical role in the rapid diffusion of cloud in Africa and enabled African enterprises to leapfrog some of the traditional IT constraints, fostering innovation and economic growth.

The hyperscale cloud infrastructure has enabled countless businesses to leverage secure, enterprise-grade cloud services, accelerating their AI transformation journeys.

Robust technology infrastructure ecosystem development continues to be vital to economic growth, with future plans for additional data centres and edge nodes across the continent scaling infrastructure for the AI digital economy.

Mobile technology is the next innovation that dramatically increased access to digital services, which is particularly relevant in Africa, where remote locations and underdeveloped infrastructure were barriers to entry.

With mobile phones being more affordable and widespread than traditional computers, millions of people could now find information, education, and services that were previously out of reach.

African entrepreneurs have developed life-changing services using mobile technology, with pioneers like M-Pesa in Kenya revolutionising the way people conduct transactions, allowing those without access to traditional banking to save, transfer money, and pay for goods and services.

Other Kenyan startups like Twiga Foods and SunCulture have harnessed the power of mobile to boost food security, providing smallholder farmers with resources and access to markets through technology-aided agriculture.

Now, integration of AI in mobile technology is transforming smartphones into highly intelligent and adaptive devices, while governments and businesses are increasingly using 4G and 5G networks alongside technologies like AI and IoT to enhance productivity and service delivery.

By harnessing local skills, ideas, innovation and know-how, African entrepreneurs and companies can stoke the fires of a global AI economy. The opportunity is enormous.

According to PwC's Global Artificial Intelligence Study, it is estimated that AI will contribute more than $1.2 trillion to Africa's economy by 2030.

With the IDC forecasting global AI-centric system spending to surpass $300 billion by 2026 and ICT spending in Sub-Saharan Africa to exceed $110 billion by 2027.

Phyllis Migwi is the Country Manager, Microsoft Kenya