The Current Status, Hotspots, and Trends of Artificial Intelligence Research in Africa——A Bibliometric Analysis Based on CiteSpace from 2003 to 2023

Based on the CiteSpace bibliometric method, 273 research papers from the Web of Science Core Database from 2003 to 2023 were analyzed. This study delves into external characteristics such as publication volume, participating countries, research institutions, and authorship to uncover the key issues and evolving trends in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) research in Africa. The research shows that the number of AI studies in Africa has seen an "explosive" growth in recent years, with AI solutions being applied on a large scale. The development of AI in Africa primarily revolves around addressing practical needs in areas such as agriculture, food security, disease, and education, leading to significant achievements. However, challenges remain, including a lack of widespread international collaboration, a small core research community, and issues related to the localization of data and technology application. Looking ahead, strengthening international cooperation, enhancing local research and innovation capabilities, and addressing challenges related to data and technology application will be key to the continued growth of AI research in Africa.