What makes it different from silicon valley? I read the whole article but couldn't find it mentioned except for the headline. Is there something I'm missing? Is it just that they aim to limit sponsorship from silicon valley giants?
It did mention a few African-specific projects: controlling malaria and identifying African wildlife. So, perhaps, it means not that the tech is different, but the applications.
Anecdotally, when I was in Zambia every construction company was Chinese, and every job site was a Chinese foreman with Zambians doing the work.
I wouldn't say this is really true.
But either way I haven't heard of them investing in intellectual capital anywhere, just infrastructure.
Which is amazingly great, they are rapidly improving quality of life in so many countries the west has in many ways abandoned.
* Chinese firms are hiring plenty of locals and not importing labor as commonly accused of from your own personal experience
* Chinese investments are investing plenty, even in AI, and not just extracting commodities
* By investing, Africans are building real skills and developing their own AI talent pool
Really makes you wonder why we here in America just ignore Africa.
Top government officials in the science space speak Russian.
Also Chinese have been involved in SSA since the 60s e.g. South African Boarder War (aka Namibian War of Independence), which Zambia was also involved in. [2]
Finally most of east and southern Africa was Socialist from 50s/60s until the 90s (many still are), so it makes sense for them to be trading with China, the world power that is closest to their political inclinations. [3]
Other side is UK/US/EU axis, who are the ones who royally fucked it up in the first place (pun intended). [4]
I know who I would choose, if I were in their positon.
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia%E2%80 [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_African_Border_War [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_socialism [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scramble_for_Africa