Morocco between Rising Ambition and Investment Challenges in the African Artificial Intelligence Race
A recent research report has revealed that Morocco stands out as one of the prominent “hubs of ambition” in Africa concerning artificial intelligence, although it remains classified among emerging markets in terms of attracting investments. According to data from Nigerian company Heirs Technologies, Moroccan startups in this field, along with four other African countries, have raised around $170 million. This figure remains modest compared to South Africa, which attracted over $495 million.
The report, titled “Africa’s Digital Leap: Cloud, Connectivity, and Artificial Intelligence in the Next Decade,” highlighted that global investment in artificial intelligence is expected to reach $632 billion by 2028, while Africa will capture a limited share. The global artificial intelligence market is projected to be valued at $244.22 billion by 2025, with only $4.51 billion allocated to the continent (1.85 percent).
The same source pointed out that North Africa is experiencing notable dynamism, particularly in Egypt and Morocco. Egypt hosts 14 data centers across several cities, while Morocco boasts eight centers, primarily concentrated in Casablanca. In contrast, South Africa remains the most mature and attractive market, with 49 data centers operated by major global companies.
In terms of funding, the report indicated that African startups in artificial intelligence raised a total of $1.25 billion between 2019 and 2025. The “big four” (South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Egypt) captured the majority of this funding, totaling $1.08 billion, while countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Ghana, Rwanda, and Mauritius shared only about $170 million, marking an initial launch that underscores the significant disparity with developed markets on the continent.
