When discussing the future of decentralized AI (DeAI), the focus is often on the technical infrastructure. However, a more important foundation is emerging: the community, the factor that turns DeAI into a practical utility. At #algeria , the largest country in Africa, this foundation is gradually being shaped by local voices like Chabane MT Tarek, a dedicated volunteer within the Crypto and AI community in Africa.
The journey from curiosity to belief in DeAI
Chabane, an Arabic speaker, graduated in Economics and Accounting, has been exploring Bitcoin since 2013. That curiosity gradually turned into steadfast belief through Ethereum, ICOs, DeFi, and ultimately DeAI. He realized that centralized AI models do not adequately serve regions like Africa, which are often sidelined in the decision-making process regarding platform access, data rights, or even language inclusion. #DeAI provides an alternative solution, allowing local data contributors to benefit, empowering the community, and creating opportunities that are not limited by borders or bandwidth.
Chabane emphasizes: "Localization is not just about translation: it is about understanding the behaviors, platforms, economies, and even the cultural comfort zones of people." He points out that in Algeria, Facebook remains the main technology discussion channel, not Twitter. The unique geographical position of North Africa, as a cultural and geopolitical bridge between sub-Saharan Africa and the MENA region, further underscores the importance of this region in building a truly global DeAI.
Chabane's current work is entirely voluntary, including organizing community events, translating technical content, supporting educational initiatives, and using AI tools to create locally relevant stories. He shares that there is a growing interest from the community; they want to be part of something global yet still close to them, and they just need a starting point.
Chabane's story is a reminder that there is no decentralization without widespread distribution across geographical areas, languages, and cultures. As Chabane says: "You can have the best protocol in the world, but if people in Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa, or rural #Kenya cannot understand and use it, then it is not truly decentralized." Although the decentralized infrastructure for AI is still in its infancy, this future may be closer than we think, thanks to voices like Chabane's, who are building from the ground up rather than from the top down.
