Table of Contents
Artificial intelligence (AI) across Africa has transitioned from basic experimental tools into sophisticated systems tailored to the continent’s distinct environment. By 2025, there was a significant focus on developing large language models (LLMs) that grasp the complexities of African markets, diverse languages, and infrastructural limitations.
With increasing AI investments, several African governments-including those of Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and several others-have unveiled strategic frameworks to embed AI into critical economic sectors. Concurrently, telecom giants like MTN and Airtel have expanded data center infrastructure continent-wide. These developments are steadily advancing Africa’s vision to harness AI for sustainable economic growth and social progress.
Today, Africa is witnessing a surge of AI-driven innovations that resonate with local needs and ambitions. Below are some of the standout AI initiatives launched in 2025 that exemplify this trend.
Gebeya Dala: Ethiopia’s Mobile-First AI App Creator
In October 2025, Ethiopian tech firm Gebeya introduced Gebeya Dala, an AI-powered platform that simplifies app development for African users. Founded by Amadou Daffe and Hiruy Amanuel, this tool addresses common barriers such as language diversity, payment system limitations, and device constraints by enabling users to describe desired applications in everyday language-including Hausa, Swahili, Amharic, and Arabic. The platform then automatically generates full-stack code optimized for low-bandwidth environments and integrates local payment solutions like mobile money.
What sets Gebeya Dala apart is its accessibility: non-developers can effortlessly create apps, such as one to monitor regional crop prices, without coding expertise. This democratization of app creation empowers entrepreneurs and communities to build tailored digital tools that reflect their realities.
Curation AI: Nigeria’s Real-Time Content Verifier and Sentiment Tracker
Responding to the rampant spread of misinformation and synthetic media, Nigerian startup MYai Robotics launched Curation AI in November 2025. Founded by Kayode Aladesuyi, this platform instantly authenticates news, videos, audio, and social media posts, detecting AI-generated or manipulated content before it circulates widely.
Additionally, Curation AI features an ‘opinion intelligence’ module that monitors live public sentiment across digital channels. This real-time insight enables brands, media outlets, policymakers, and individuals to gauge current attitudes and trends, moving beyond outdated or static data sources.
YarnGPT: Nigeria’s Multilingual AI Voice and Video Translator
Developed by Nigerian AI engineer Saheed Ayanniyi in early 2025, YarnGPT specializes in converting text and videos into Nigerian-accented speech across languages like Yoruba, Igbo, and Hausa. By training on local film audio and transcripts, the model captures authentic speech patterns and intonations.
Its flagship feature allows users to upload English videos and receive dubbed versions in local languages within minutes. YarnGPT also offers tools to transform written articles into podcasts and provides APIs for developers creating voice-enabled applications, enhancing accessibility and cultural relevance in digital content.
YesCheff: Interactive Culinary Assistant Bridging Nigeria and the UK
Launched in October 2025 by product designer Deji Ajetomobi, YesCheff revolutionizes cooking tutorials by converting YouTube videos into structured, easy-to-follow recipes. It extracts and reorganizes content into sections like ingredients, preparation steps, tools needed, calorie counts, serving sizes, and allergen warnings using a combination of Google APIs, YouTube transcript data, and OpenAI technology.
YesCheff enhances the cooking experience with interactive features such as adjustable timers, heat level indicators, ingredient checklists, and links to nearby grocery stores, making it ideal for users juggling busy lifestyles or limited kitchen resources.
JobPilot AI: Ghana’s Comprehensive Career Development Platform
In April 2025, Kelvin Agyare Yeboah and Anthony Gudu introduced JobPilot AI, an all-in-one career assistant that integrates job search, resume crafting, and interview preparation. Its AI Interview Simulator offers real-time mock interviews with virtual panels that assess confidence, technical knowledge, and communication skills.
The platform also generates resumes and cover letters optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and uses AI-driven matching to connect users with relevant job openings. A community forum fosters peer support and networking, empowering job seekers to navigate the competitive employment landscape more effectively.
SmartSkin Africa: Personalized AI Skincare for African Complexions
Ghanaian ICT provider Accessplus Communications Limited, led by Kelvin Boateng, launched SmartSkin Africa in November 2025. This AI platform offers customized skin assessments tailored to African skin types by analyzing up to 15 parameters such as acne, pigmentation, hydration, wrinkles, and skin firmness from user-uploaded selfies.
SmartSkin Africa provides personalized skincare recommendations and tracks skin changes over time, helping users adapt to environmental factors and product effects. The platform’s mission is to create an AI system that truly reflects the diversity and needs of African skin.
Thunders: Tunisia’s AI-Driven Software Testing Solution
Following their success with fintech startup Expensya, Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani launched Thunders in June 2025. This AI-powered platform automates software testing by allowing developers to describe test scenarios in natural language. Thunders then generates, executes, and maintains test scripts autonomously.
By automating repetitive and fragile testing tasks, Thunders accelerates development cycles and improves product quality, enabling teams to focus on innovation and user experience enhancements.
Xara: Nigeria’s Conversational AI Banking Assistant
Launched in June 2025 by Sulaiman Adewale, Xara is a WhatsApp-based AI assistant that facilitates banking transactions through natural language commands. Fine-tuned for Nigerian English, Pidgin, and soon Hausa and Yoruba, Xara enables users to send money, pay bills, monitor expenses, and schedule payments simply by chatting.
Beyond text, Xara processes voice notes and images, allowing users to complete transactions by sending audio messages or screenshots, making banking more accessible and convenient.
Chidi: Rwanda’s AI-Powered Educational Companion
In November 2025, Chidi was launched through a collaboration between ALX, Anthropic, and the Rwandan government. Designed as a “Socratic tutor,” Chidi encourages critical thinking by guiding students to ask questions and explore concepts rather than providing direct answers.
Educators benefit from AI-assisted lesson planning, creating more engaging and interactive classrooms. Within its initial days, Chidi facilitated over 1,100 conversations and 4,000 chats, with plans to train thousands of teachers and integrate the tool into schools nationwide.
MamaMate: Tanzania’s AI Maternal Health Support System
Ele-vate AI Africa, founded by Yvonne Baldwin, introduced MamaMate in 2025 to assist new mothers in rural and underserved Tanzanian communities. This AI companion offers culturally sensitive postnatal care advice, tracks infant care routines, monitors maternal mental health through voice prompts, and facilitates anonymous peer support.
Designed for low-connectivity areas, MamaMate operates offline, runs on solar or USB power, and communicates in local languages. It was honoured at the 2025 AI for Good Innovation Factory and Global Summit for its community-focused approach to maternal health.
The innovations of 2025 demonstrate a pivotal shift: African developers are no longer merely adapting external AI tools but are creating bespoke technologies that address the continent’s unique challenges. These solutions span sectors from agriculture to healthcare, reflecting the lived experiences of millions.
Looking ahead to 2026, this trend signals a transformative future where AI is not just deployed in Africa but is fundamentally shaped by African perspectives-delivering intelligent, context-aware tools that empower communities and drive inclusive growth.
