Microsoft says it will train three million people across Africa in artificial intelligence skills in 2026, as the company ramps up efforts to expand its AI ecosystem on the continent and compete with rising alternatives such as DeepSeek.
The initiative, called Microsoft Elevate, will run through partnerships with schools, universities, and public institutions across South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, and Morocco.
Naim Yazbeck confirmed the programme in a March 12 interview with Bloomberg, saying the goal is to expand AI literacy across the continent. “To make sure cost is not a barrier to building AI literacy at scale,” Yazbeck said.
Microsoft’s push comes as Chinese AI platforms gain traction in Africa.
Yazbeck told Bloomberg that DeepSeek, an open-source AI platform from China, is one of the competitors Microsoft is responding to. “Chinese technology is active in Africa, and our job is to compete,” he said.
According to a Microsoft report published in January 2026, DeepSeek accounts for between 11% and 14% of chatbot usage in several African markets, including Ethiopia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, and Niger. In Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, usage reaches about 20%, the report found.
Alongside the training initiative, Microsoft is also expanding distribution of its AI tools through a partnership with MTN Group.
The agreement, first announced in November 2025, will bundle Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Copilot into MTN’s consumer and enterprise offerings.
MTN serves roughly 300 million subscribers across Africa, giving Microsoft a large potential distribution channel for its AI software. The rollout began in selected MTN markets in early 2026.
MTN CEO Ralph Mupita said the partnership is intended to create new opportunities for digital innovation across the continent. “This partnership opens new pathways for innovation and opportunity that will define the continent’s next phase of progress,” Mupita said in the company’s announcement.
Through the deal, MTN customers will be able to access Microsoft 365 and Copilot across computers, phones, and tablets, along with built-in features such as phishing protection and data-loss prevention.
Microsoft says some African businesses are already using its AI tools.
According to Yazbeck, South African retailer SPAR Group has saved more than 700 employee hours per year using Copilot, while Nigeria’s Access Holdings has integrated the AI assistant into daily business workflows.
The company is also promoting its Startup Founders Hub, which gives African developers access to tools such as Microsoft Azure and GitHub, as well as connections to venture capital investors.
Microsoft is also investing in infrastructure to support its AI ambitions in Africa.
The company is spending 5.4 billion rand (about $330 million) to expand its cloud and AI infrastructure in South Africa, a project expected to be completed by the end of 2026.
Bloomberg also reported that Microsoft plans to build a geothermal-powered data centre in Kenya, part of a broader push to grow cloud capacity across the region.
Yazbeck said governments across Africa will also need to prioritise AI policy and investment to fully capture the technology’s economic potential, pointing to countries such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and Saudi Arabia as examples.
Ogbonda Chivumnovu
