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Africa’s AI future: China or the West?

World Economic Forum

Africa’s AI future: China or the West?

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Africa’s AI future is becoming a test case for whether ambition will be matched by investment, or filled by default. In a GZERO Media Global Stage livestream from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, an all-star panel delivered a blunt warning: without serious capital, the next phase of AI infrastructure in Africa will follow the same path as past telecommunications booms, led by China.

AI and the new world order: Global Stage live from Davos

World Economic Forum

AI and the new world order: Global Stage live from Davos

AI adoption is accelerating worldwide, but “diffusion” isn’t just about who has the best models. It’s about who has the basics: affordable power, reliable connectivity, and the skills to actually use AI. In a new GZERO Media Global Stage livestream from the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, CNN’s Richard Quest moderates a clear-eyed discussion on what it will take to broaden AI access, and what happens if the gap widens.

Watch our Global Stage live premiere from Davos

Watch our Global Stage live premiere from Davos

WATCH THE REPLAY: At this year's World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, our Global Stage panel discussion will examine the growing infrastructure around AI, how countries are tackling AI adoption, and the ways in which local and supranational industries might benefit from this rapidly accelerating technology. Watch at gzeromedia.com/globalstage