Maxwell Ampong advises Ghanaian firms on rising generative AI inference costs

Dr. Maxwell Ampong, an expert in software distribution, has provided a detailed analysis of the escalating financial and resource requirements associated with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Writing in October 2025, Dr. Ampong highlighted the critical distinction between AI model training and inference, explaining that while training is a massive initial investment, inference—the process of a model generating a response to a user prompt—incurs significant costs with every interaction. This dynamic is increasingly relevant as Ghanaian businesses seek to integrate these technologies into their daily operations.

The rising costs of AI inference are primarily driven by the hardware and software efficiency required to meet high demand. Each AI request necessitates substantial energy consumption and computational power, which scales as more users adopt the technology. Dr. Ampong noted that while improvements in hardware are ongoing, the sheer volume of resource requirements remains a barrier for many organizations. For businesses in Ghana, understanding these cost structures is essential to avoid unforeseen expenditures as they move beyond basic implementation.

Despite the infrastructure challenges present in the local market, Dr. Ampong suggested that Ghanaian firms can still find significant value in the AI ecosystem. He pointed out that local providers have unique opportunities in sectors such as data preparation and systems integration. Rather than committing to heavy upfront investments in proprietary models, the analysis encourages businesses to leverage existing AI tools to drive efficiency and operational improvements. This strategy allows for experimentation without the high risks associated with developing foundational infrastructure from scratch.

Ultimately, the analysis serves as a cautionary guide for the private sector to assess the practical value of AI tools before scaling up operations. Dr. Ampong emphasized that a thoughtful approach to investment and customer engagement is necessary to ensure that AI adoption leads to genuine productivity gains. By focusing on how these tools solve specific business problems rather than simply following global trends, Ghanaian entrepreneurs can better navigate the complex and evolving landscape of generative AI.