How Artificial Intelligence is Rewriting the Rules of Entrepreneurship in Africa and the MENA Region

Abstract

Abstract:

This article discusses how Artificial Intelligence (Artificial Intelligence) is revolutionizing entrepreneurship in Africa and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. We discuss Artificial Intelligence as a driver of new business models, new access to markets, and the potential to improve financial inclusion. Although Artificial Intelligence presents massive opportunities to create jobs and stimulate the economy, various regional imbalances, including in digital infrastructure, governance, human capital, and cultural practices will continue to influence the idiosyncratic and uneven responses to Artificial Intelligence entrepreneurship. This article also discusses the obstacles presented by ethical dilemmas; limitations in infrastructure; and issues of skills that all lead to outcomes that entrench inequality rather than mitigate it. By leveraging the latest qualitative, case study data, this article highlights the critical policy interventions and ecosystem developments that are needed to maximize the inclusive and sustainable potential of Artificial Intelligence-driven and empowered entrepreneurship across various African and MENA contexts.

 Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Entrepreneurship, Africa, MENA Region, Economic Development