Nigeria is poised to become a leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Africa, with the recent launch of its Large Language Model. However, industry experts warn that the high cost of training data and limited understanding of AI technology may hinder the country’s progress. Some of the challenges and opportunities facing Nigeria’s AI sector include:
The high cost of training data may slow down the development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Nigeria, according to Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, Founder of Hyperscale, the company behind Neural AI.
Akindeinde stated that many Nigerian companies with AI innovations cannot train their own data due to the high cost. He explained that training AI data requires huge servers, which are costly, with prices ranging from $500,000 to millions of dollars.
Akindeinde also emphasized the need for AI education in Nigeria, as the understanding of AI technology is still low. He noted that it is difficult to get AI patented in Nigeria because those in charge do not understand the technology.
The President of Nigeria Internet Registration Association (NiRA), Mr. Adesola Akinsanya, also spoke at the event, highlighting the need for careful consideration of AI prospects, sound policies, and addressing accompanying challenges.
Akinsanya called for partnerships and collective action to drive growth and create policies that support innovation and develop infrastructure.
A recent report by Stanford University revealed that the high cost of training AI models is limiting non-industry actors’ involvement in the technology revolution.
The Nigerian government launched its Large Language Model, expected to position the country as an AI leader in Africa. The model will be trained in low-resource languages and accented English.
The high cost of training data and limited understanding of AI technology may slow down AI development in Nigeria. However, with education, partnerships, and government initiatives, Nigeria can leverage AI effectively and drive growth.
