Artificial Intelligence: Transforming Lives and Economies
"Artificial intelligence is no longer a promise: it is already transforming our lives and economies," said Karim Bguir, co-founder and CEO of Instadeep, during the Mediterranean AI Forum held on November 20-21, 2025, in Tunisia, which brought together over 600 industry players.
For him, "we are at a decisive and historic moment in AI." According to Bguir, the performance of artificial intelligence systems is evolving exponentially. Recent IQ tests show that some agents now surpass 99.9% of human capabilities. "Tomorrow, we will certainly have surpassed 100% of humans," he emphasizes, illustrating the rapid progress and impact of this cognitive revolution. AI, he insists, is not limited to software. It simultaneously accelerates three essential engines: data, computing power, and model innovation. Thanks to AI, data can now be artificially generated to fuel learning, next-generation supercomputers are designed with the help of AI systems, and models themselves become capable of creating the next generation of ultra-performant systems.
The economic implications are significant. "It's not just large companies that benefit, but also startups and small businesses. A team of three people can achieve the productivity of a team of 100 people," explains Bguir. This amplification of productivity opens up considerable prospects for regional competitiveness.
He also highlighted the strategic role of solar and renewable energy in Mediterranean development. "The Mediterranean basin and North Africa have a unique solar abundance, which can meet Europe's computing power needs," he specified, citing the possibility of creating ultra-performant and competitive data centers.
Bguir emphasized the importance of win-win partnerships between the northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean. He cites the example of the Nigerian Dangote refinery, which transforms local crude oil into high-value-added products, as a model for "21st-century refineries" focused on intelligence and data centers rather than fossil fuels. According to him, all conditions are now met to seize this historic opportunity: AI has reached a level of maturity, solar energy is more efficient and economical than ever, and telecommunications infrastructure, such as the Medusa cable, effectively connects the region. "We can create the most efficient data centers in the world, better than those of the Americans or Chinese," Bguir affirms.
In conclusion, he called for cooperation between private initiatives and government support to transform these assets into shared prosperity. "Nothing is inevitable, but thanks to current technologies, we can offer a better future for all," he declared. The two-day forum, according to him, constitutes a decisive moment to initiate this technological and economic leap.
