Tadesse, who leads Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab in Kenya, made the case in an interview in Nairobi as world leaders, researchers and technology executives met at UN Headquarters for High-Level Week. He argued that importing priorities or systems designed elsewhere can miss the everyday conditions communities face across the continent.
The first step, in his view, is to agree on the problem. Governments and local partners can then assess what kind of technology, infrastructure and data would be suitable. That sequence is intended to keep AI projects tied to practical needs in areas such as education, health, agriculture, business and public services, rather than beginning with a technology looking for an application.
Tadesse said solutions should be built through cooperation among governments, universities, development partners, creative communities and technology companies. Sharing knowledge and experience, he argued, can help organisations adapt what already works to African contexts and limited resources instead of duplicating efforts or starting from scratch in every country.
He also sees the continent’s young population and the rapid spread of technology as an opportunity. Young people are already using digital tools to address local challenges, while investors and development partners are willing to support some of those efforts. Bringing those groups together, he said, could make Africa a stronger centre of development-focused AI innovation.
The expert’s warning is that time and coordination matter. AI adoption is expanding quickly, but fragmented national projects could repeat work and leave useful expertise isolated. His prescription is to set shared priorities, cooperate across institutions and invest in systems grounded in citizens’ needs. Whether that approach succeeds will depend on countries turning collaboration into sustained programmes and resources.