• Algeria plans AI models tailored to local languages, data, economic needs
• Government to mobilize universities, research centers, start-ups for development
• Initiative aims reduce reliance on foreign AI technologies

Algeria's authorities want to accelerate the development of artificial intelligence solutions tailored to local conditions. The plan was outlined by Noureddine Ouadah, minister of Knowledge Economy, Start-ups and Micro-enterprises, during a visit to the city of Médéa on Tuesday, March 10, as part of broader efforts to strengthen the country's technology ecosystem.

The goal is to develop models better suited to the country's needs, whether in terms of languages, available data or national economic priorities. "AI now occupies an important place in several sectors, including the economy and regional security. This requires training young people and helping them understand it," the minister said.

Officials say today's dominant AI models were designed and trained primarily on data drawn from foreign contexts. These tools do not always account for the cultural, linguistic or administrative characteristics of African and Arab countries. By developing its own models, Algeria hopes to create solutions better tailored to local needs while reducing its dependence on imported technology.

To turn that ambition into reality, the government plans to mobilize several players from the national ecosystem, including universities, research centers and start-ups. It is counting in particular on the use of local data to make AI systems more relevant to public services, the digital economy and certain strategic sectors.

The initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the knowledge economy and position Algeria as an emerging player in advanced technologies.

According to British consultancy Oxford Insights, Algeria posted an AI readiness index score of 42.05 out of 100 in 2025, ranking 89th globally. By comparison, the average for the MENA region stands at 45.51.

Major multinationals are also investing heavily in this space. In February 2026, Google announced Project Wraxal, which is expected to integrate 21 African languages into its AI. Microsoft also launched Project Gecko in November 2025 with a similar objective.

Adoni Conrad Quenum