[ACCI-CAVIE] In an increasingly complex and competitive world, Africa must master the tools of the future to ensure its sovereignty and prosperity. At the heart of this transformation lies augmented competitive intelligence, a field where Dr. Guy Gweth has become an undeniable leading figure. His expertise, combined with the strategic vision of the ACCI, is essential to propel African public and private actors toward increased competitiveness.
On April 22, 2025, during the 2nd edition of the Cameroon Days of Artificial Intelligence (JCIA2025) at the Hilton Hotel, Dr. Guy Gweth delivered a masterful address, highlighting the crucial convergence between Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Competitive Intelligence (CI). Drawing on his role as director of a collective work published in 2024 on the contribution of AI to the performance of public and private actors, the leader of the ACCI, also founder of Knowdys Consulting Group, structured his presentation around three fundamental axes:
AI: Catalyst for High-Value Economic Intelligence
Dr. Guy Gweth first demonstrated how AI enables competitive intelligence to transform into augmented competitive intelligence, capable of producing high-value intelligence. In an environment where information is abundant but relevant intelligence is rare, AI offers unprecedented capacities for analysis, processing, and prediction. Thanks to sophisticated algorithms, machine learning, and natural language processing, the ACCI, under the impetus of its current president, is developing methodologies that convert masses of raw data into exploitable strategic information. This approach enables African decision-makers, whether in public administrations or the private sector, to better anticipate threats, identify opportunities, and optimize their strategies in a context of global economic warfare.
The Imperative of African AI, by Africans, for Africa
Dr. Gweth’s intervention then highlighted the urgent need to develop African AI, by Africans, for the benefit of Africa. Far from being a mere passive adoption of foreign technologies, it’s about a creative and sovereign appropriation of AI, adapted to the continent’s specific realities, challenges, and opportunities. The African Centre for Competitive Intelligence (ACCI) actively advocates for an approach that fosters endogenous innovation, the training of local talent, and the establishment of robust technological infrastructures. A truly African AI will not only guarantee the protection of the continent’s data and strategic interests but will also allow for the development of relevant solutions for our unique challenges, whether they concern sustainable development, food security, or natural resource management.
Cameroon, First African Power? The Answer from “Power 237”
Finally, the president of the ACCI placed Cameroon’s current efforts in AI within the bold perspective of his recent book, “Power 237”. This audacious and pragmatic work aims to make Cameroon the leading power on the African continent by 2050, notably through a strategic mastery and application of AI. For the speaker, Cameroon can serve as a model for the entire continent, proving that strong technological and economic ambition, supported by augmented competitive intelligence, is the key to transformation and emergence. Investments in AI, youth training, and the integration of these technologies into public policies and corporate strategies are all levers identified to achieve this ambitious goal.
Dr. Guy Gweth’s intervention at the Cameroonian Artificial Intelligence Days was not just a conference; it was a call to action. Since its creation in 2015, the ACCI, through its leadership and expertise, continues to pave the way for an Africa resolutely focused on the future, where augmented competitive intelligence is no longer an option, but a vital necessity for the competitiveness and sovereignty of its actors.
The Editorial Team