Stat: Kenya and Egypt lead Africa’s accelerating AI investment race

Africa – New research from cybersecurity company Fortinet reveals that 85% of African businesses across five key markets plan to invest in AI within the next five years. A survey of 750 executives across South Africa, Kenya, Egypt, Morocco and Algeria highlights a growing appetite for AI, particularly in cybersecurity.  

While South Africa is typically regarded as the continent’s digital leader, it trails behind Kenya and Egypt in both current and planned AI adoption. Egypt tops the list, with 24% of firms reporting advanced AI use in cybersecurity, followed by Kenya at 17%. Meanwhile, 72% of South African respondents consider AI crucial to digital strategy, compared to 85% in Kenya and 82% in Egypt. This pattern continues in future investment plans, with Kenya (90%) and Egypt (89%) leading in committed AI investments over the next three to five years, while South Africa trails at 83%. 

Our upcoming report, Emerging Youth: Kenya, explores the emerging opportunities in the country’s youth culture. Head to our Artificial Intelligence topic to find out more about the latest AI developments.