DIGITAL DIVIDE COULD BECOME NEW COLONIALISM — RUSSIA WARNS

Russia has warned that unequal access to artificial intelligence could deepen global inequality and leave African countries dependent on technology developed elsewhere.

Andrey Akulchev, an official in Russia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, raised the concern during an AI session at the third Russia-Africa Economic and Humanitarian Forum in Moscow.

He argued that poorly regulated AI development could create conditions for new forms of colonialism, particularly if Africa supplies resources and data without sharing fairly in the benefits.

“Africa must not become either a raw-material appendage of the new AI-based economy or a free data warehouse for those who train their models on it,” he said.

Akulchev said Russia supported equal access to technology and the right of countries to determine their own AI policies.

According to him, a declaration agreed within the Russia-Africa summit framework also supports multilingual AI solutions, including tools in Yoruba, Hausa, Swahili, Amharic and Zulu.

Russia’s First Deputy Minister of Economic Development, Maxim Kolesnikov, invited African researchers to collaborate with Russian AI laboratories.

He said Russia had supported 13 AI research centres employing more than 2,000 scientists since 2021, adding that the centres were open to partnerships with African institutions.

Kolesnikov also highlighted previous international research exchanges, including a preparatory session in Morocco involving African representatives.

The discussions reflected Moscow’s effort to expand its technology partnerships with Africa, with officials emphasising local skills, research cooperation and national control over AI development.