As the global race to adopt artificial intelligence (AI) heats up, Africa must prioritise infrastructure, integration, and talent to stay competitive and shape its role in the developing AI economy.
This is according to Smangele Nkosi, country leader at Cisco South Africa, who spoke at the Regenesys AI Summit yesterday, which marked the introduction of the university's School of AI.
Nkosi stated that while AI represents a tremendous opportunity for the continent, reaching its full potential will require laying the proper foundations.
Her remarks come at a time when AI is rapidly evolving from traditional tools to more powerful, autonomous systems capable of making decisions and performing tasks on their own, a shift known as agentic AI.
“This is not science fiction; we are moving from a world where we use AI to a world where we collaborate with AI. It is no longer waiting for instructions; it is making decisions and executing tasks around and across systems.”
Nkosi cautioned that, despite rising awareness of the technology's usefulness, many businesses are unprepared to implement it effectively.
Citing Cisco's AI Readiness Index, she explained that 80% of organisations perceive AI as critical, yet 70% lack the skills needed to implement it. However, she emphasised that the challenge goes beyond skills alone.
“AI projects stall or halt because the infrastructure, security, and compute power are not ready,” she said.
To address this, Cisco is investing in AI-ready infrastructure, including partnerships with firms like NVIDIA, with the goal of simplifying deployment and increasing data processing efficiency.
She also stated that strong, resilient networks will be required as AI systems become more complicated and data-intensive. Beyond infrastructure, the senior executive emphasised the necessity of integration, stressing that AI cannot have a meaningful impact if deployed in isolation.
“AI does not live in silos. It must connect across the entire landscape to deliver real value.”
This includes integrating AI across industries such as healthcare, finance, and public services, where it can drive efficiencies and unlock new opportunities.
She also pointed to the growing importance of data sovereignty, noting that African organisations increasingly want to retain control over their data to ensure compliance, reduce latency, and protect strategic assets.
Nkosi emphasised that talent development will ultimately determine whether Africa can compete in the global AI race.
“Technology does not transform organisations; people do,” she said.
She called for a shift in how AI skills are developed, moving beyond basic usage towards building critical thinking, leadership, and innovation capabilities.
“We need to stop teaching people how to use AI and start teaching them how to think, lead, and innovate with it.”
The launch of the Regenesys School of AI reflects a growing focus on addressing this skills gap and preparing a workforce capable of supporting AI adoption at scale.
Despite the challenges, Nkosi said Africa still has a unique opportunity to leapfrog into the AI era.
“We are not late to the AI party; we are early enough to define the rules. The organisations that get AI-ready today will pioneer new economies and shape more inclusive societies.”
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