Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Mobile Money Optimization in West Africa: Trends, Challenges, and Opportunities

The rapid growth of mobile money platforms in West Africa has revolutionized financial inclusion, offering accessible and secure payment solutions to millions of underserved populations. Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a powerful tool to optimize mobile money services, enhancing user experience, improving transaction efficiency, and fostering financial growth. This review explores the role of AI in mobile money optimization in West Africa, examining the latest trends in AI applications, such as predictive analytics, fraud detection, personalized financial services, and customer support automation. It highlights the key challenges, including data privacy concerns, infrastructural limitations, and regulatory hurdles, while also identifying opportunities for leveraging AI to overcome these barriers and enhance the sustainability and inclusivity of mobile money ecosystems in the region. Additionally, the review discusses future directions for research and policy interventions needed to maximize AI’s potential in mobile money optimization, ensuring that technological advancements contribute to equitable financial access across diverse socio-economic groups in West Africa. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Mobile Money, Financial Inclusion, West Africa, Predictive Analytics