U.S. and China control 90% of AI data centres - the Global South is building a different kind of AI - Silicon Canals

"Communities that depend on foreign-owned cloud infrastructure and proprietary models for critical services are ceding a form of sovereignty as consequential as control over energy or water."

"Frugal AI is, at its core, a sovereignty play, aiming to empower local communities by providing them with the tools to develop their own AI solutions."

"Research indicates that AI adoption in wealthier countries has grown faster than in low- and middle-income countries, creating a significant dependency gap."

"The majority of AI data centers are operated by U.S. and Chinese companies, leaving regions like Africa and South America with limited AI computing infrastructure."

Frugal AI initiatives are emerging in the Global South, where researchers and startups in countries like India, Argentina, and Kenya are creating smaller, affordable AI systems. These systems are designed to operate on low-powered devices, addressing the dependency on foreign-owned cloud infrastructure. The movement emphasizes that reliance on proprietary AI models for essential services leads to a loss of sovereignty. The disparity in AI adoption between wealthier nations and low- and middle-income countries highlights a structural dependency that affects critical sectors such as healthcare and education.

Read at Silicon Canals