Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) called for deeper collaboration between Ethiopia and BRICS member states to build artificial intelligence tailored to Africa’s needs, speaking at the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi.

In his address, the Prime Minister highlighted Ethiopia’s strategic prioritization of the digital economy, pointing to the establishment of the Ethiopian Medemer Artificial Intelligence University as a major driver of domestic technological innovation. While affirming support for ethical, human-centered AI governance, he emphasized that regulatory frameworks must be paired with practical technical capabilities to deliver meaningful impact.

PM Abiy detailed ongoing national efforts to expand digital public infrastructure across Ethiopia, including digital identification systems, electronic payment platforms, and secure data exchange networks. He noted that robust regulations have been established to ensure lawful data protection, adding that AI technology will further accelerate the nation's broader digital transformation.

Emphasizing that the next generation of artificial intelligence must serve broader humanity, the Prime Minister advocated for systems capable of understanding diverse languages, engaging varied communities, and drawing upon extensive human knowledge. Calling on Africa to take an active role in developing this technology, he explained that realizing this goal will require expanded research, advanced computing capacity, skill development, and strong institutional leadership.