He was speaking in Conakry, Guinea, on Wednesday, at the opening of the Transform Africa Summit (TAS) 2025, organised by the Smart Africa Alliance under the theme 'AI for Africa: Innovate Locally, Impact Globally.'
The Transform Africa Summit (TAS), held annually, brings together Heads of State, policymakers, and innovators to accelerate Africa's ongoing digital revolution.
In his remarks, President Kagame said that Africa's success in the age of artificial intelligence will depend not only on how fast countries deploy new technologies, but also on how well they apply them to solve real, local problems.
'Artificial intelligence, the theme of this year's conversation, is a case in point. For Africa, success will not only depend on how quickly we deploy this new tool, but also on which problems we choose to apply it to,' he said.
He added that Rwanda has already laid the groundwork for a national AI policy aimed at guiding innovation in key sectors such as healthcare, education, and agriculture, with projections showing that AI could contribute up to 5 percent of Rwanda's GDP in the near future.
Closing Africa's digital gap
President Kagame noted that despite Africa's youthful and tech-savvy population, many countries still face challenges in digital infrastructure, skills development, and regulatory frameworks.
'The investment deficit in digital infrastructure, skills, and regulatory framework is what slows us down. Closing these structural gaps requires close collaboration between the public and private sector,' he said.
He commended Smart Africa for spearheading initiatives such as the Africa Artificial Intelligence Council and the AI Fund, describing them as 'important foundations to advance our continent's priorities.'
President Kagame also urged African nations not to be swayed by fears surrounding AI's impact on jobs and privacy, noting that while some of these concerns are valid, they should not overshadow the transformative opportunities AI brings.
'Right now, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence, especially regarding the future of work, privacy, and safety. Some of it is completely unjustified, and some of it is just fear of the unknown,' he said.
'Regardless of the sentiment, this new reality is here to stay with us, and we must learn how to adapt and live with it.'
Technology won't replace anyone
In a reassuring message, President Kagame emphasised that technological progress has historically uplifted, rather than replaced, humanity.
'This is not the first nor the last wave of technological progress that Africa and the world will witness,' he said.
'Science and technology are powerful engines of creativity and performance that are not here to replace anyone. Almost always, humanity has been better for it. Let's make the most of these times.'
President Kagame arrived in Conakry on Tuesday, where he joined President Mamady Doumbouya for the launch of the Simandou Iron Ore Project, one of the largest ongoing mining initiatives in the world.
The Simandou deposit is regarded as the world's largest known untapped iron ore reserve, estimated to contain between 3 and 4 billion tonnes of high-grade recoverable iron ore.
The project, expected to reach full production by 2030, will produce around 120 million tonnes of iron ore annually, positioning Guinea as a key player in the global mineral economy.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
