Given rising concerns regarding the potential role of artificial intelligence (AI) in diffusing nondemocratic governance principles, the import of AI technologies by African states has intensified scrutiny of China’s expanding influence in global AI governance. This article examines whether the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has effectively exported its unique AI governance principles through its Digital Silk Road and other global initiatives. The article makes two primary contributions. First, it traces the core tenets of Chinese AI governance and the channels through which Beijing seeks to disseminate them internationally, drawing on a systematic analysis of Chinese-language policy documents and official sources. As a second step, it assesses the extent to which these principles are reflected in African AI strategies, looking at continental and national AI strategies adopted by African democracies, focusing particularly on Ghana as a case study, and examining select AI cooperation projects involving Chinese partners. The findings indicate that AI governance strategies in African democracies largely align with Western-derived normative frameworks. African states exhibit strategic agency by selectively engaging a diverse array of external partners, including Chinese firms, to mitigate the risk of overdependence. Consequently, China’s influence on AI norm diffusion in Africa should not be overstated.
Policy implications
- International engagement in Africa’s ICT and AI sectors is often driven by concerns over geopolitical competition, based on the assumption that China may harness its investments in these areas to exert political control. However, this viewpoint oversimplifies the decision-making processes of African nations. African governments adopt a pragmatic approach to technology procurement, prioritizing affordability and deployment speed over ideological concerns, and simultaneously develop regulatory frameworks to secure their “data autonomy.”
- International partners should move beyond perceiving Africa solely as a battleground for geopolitical rivalry, as this might undermine trust—especially when international collaborations are viewed as imposing restrictions on African policy autonomy or dictating technological choices.
- International cooperation with African states should prioritize regulatory partnerships that emphasize co-creation rather than the exportation of norms. One-size-fits-all models risk replicating neocolonial patterns by imposing standards that may be misaligned with local institutional capacities and development priorities. Instead, international actors should champion adaptive regulatory frameworks that are sensitive to context, focus on capacity building, and effectively address African socioeconomic realities.
- International cooperation should seek to enhance African strategic autonomy within the global AI ecosystem(s). This involves moving beyond mere capacity building at the implementation level to ensure inclusion in global AI governance and standard-setting processes, positioning African stakeholders as rule-makers rather than simply rule-takers.
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