ADDIS ABABA- The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute announced that it is revolutionizing institutions by using artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency and output.
The Institute’s Robotics and Industrial Automation Head Ashenafi Bekele told the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that now is the right time for Ethiopian institutions to adopt technology on par with global standards to boost efficiency.
“We must maximize our benefits. To effectively leverage technology, we need high-quality data, skilled human resources, robust infrastructure, and an operational system that supports seamless implementation,” he stated.
AI solutions are becoming increasingly pervasive in daily life, with research from AI institutes and tools like those from Open AI being tested. Ethiopia can sustain long-term benefits from AI by ensuring access to quality data, trained personnel, and adequate infrastructure. To this end, Ashenafi emphasized that the Institute is committed to promoting ethical, inclusive, and fair AI use that respects the interests of all stakeholders.
“By establishing these foundations, our scattered efforts will merge and grow, generating significant economic benefits. Ethiopia is competing effectively in the global AI landscape, we are at a strong level, and we have laid a solid foundation,”he said
Additionally, an Artificial Intelligence Strategy is being developed to implement a policy approved by the Council of Ministers in June 2024. This policy focuses on government intervention and establishes principles for data collection, storage, and usage. A Data Governance Framework is also being prepared in collaboration with partner institutions, according to Ashenafi.
He explained that the policy aims to enable Ethiopia to fully harness AI, requiring legal frameworks to minimize challenges and maximize benefits. This involves launching the strategy, addressing legal gaps, and preparing guidelines and legal documents for implementation.
Ashenafi highlighted the strategy’s emphasis on the government’s role in prioritizing AI, noting that AI’s growth depends on high-quality data.
He stressed that institutions can produce reliable data to inform policy, empower industry specialists, and expand AI applications by ensuring high-quality input data and raising public awareness.
BY ESSEYE MENGISTE
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SUNDAY EDITION 13, July 2025
