An AI revolution for Africa?

At the 2026 AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Tony Maciulis speaks with Tonee Ndungu, a Kenyan entrepreneur who helped launch one of the tech hubs that became a baseline for what is now known as Silicon Savannah. Ndungu explains how growing up with dyslexia and ADHD shaped his focus on inclusion, and why he sees technology as a bridge that can help people move beyond the limits they have been told about themselves.

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Because culture and context matter, Nduungu says, "If we're going to take AI and make it make sense on the continent, the continent needs to be involved."

With thousands of languages and so much history still offline, he argues the continent is underrepresented in AI systems, even as usage is already high. He points to mobile adoption, Kenya’s AI uptake, and a simple bottleneck that is often missed: payment. If AI tools require credit cards and monthly subscriptions, they will not match how millions of people actually transact day to day. His pitch is straightforward. Localize payments, localize pricing, and make pay as you go credits the default, so access can scale where the appetite already exists.

This conversation is presented by GZERO Media in partnership with Microsoft. The Global Stage series convenes global leaders for critical conversations on the geopolitical forces reshaping our world.