Since 2018, the Tunisian government has been working on developing and adopting a national artificial intelligence strategy. This aligns with the executive's ambition to position the country as a digital hub in Africa.

American tech group Nvidia announced the launch of an artificial intelligence (AI) innovation center in Tunisia on Tuesday, September 17. Located in the Novation City technology park, the center aims to empower Tunisian developers with training, technology, and networking opportunities to foster AI adoption across Africa.

This initiative comes as Tunisia prepares to adopt a national AI and digitalization strategy, part of a broader vision to establish the country as a digital leader in Africa. Earlier this year, the University of Tunis launched Tunisia's first public institute dedicated to AI, further encouraging its integration.

AI adoption across various economic sectors is expected to drive socio-economic development. For instance, in agriculture—employing around two-thirds of Africa’s workforce and contributing 15% to the continent’s GDP, according to the World Bank—AI can enhance productivity. It can help develop better seeds tailored to local conditions, advise farmers on optimal crops for their soil and climate, and aid in developing medications and vaccines for livestock.

Tunisia ranks 81st out of 193 countries in AI readiness, with a score of 46.07 out of 100, according to the 2023 "Government AI Readiness Index" by Oxford Insights. Within Africa, it ranks third, behind Mauritius and Egypt.

Isaac K. Kassouwi