AI-Cloud Integration Will Shape Future Commerce — Prof. Akingbesote

 

Professor Alaba Akingbesote, a scholar specialising in Artificial Intelligence and e-market services, has called for enhanced digital literacy and broader access to digital tools to ensure that Africa—and particularly Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in rural areas—can fully benefit from the globalisation of e-marketplaces.

He observed that many of these enterprises remain excluded from emerging digital trade systems, even as traditional markets gradually evolve into bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces.

The professor made these remarks on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, while delivering the 66th inaugural lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Ondo State, titled “From Traditional Markets to Bidirectional AI-Cloud E-Marketplaces: Emergence, Challenges and Expectations.”

Tracing the evolution of e-marketplaces, Prof. Akingbesote explained that traditional marketplaces were constrained by weak marketing strategies, limited global reach, slow adoption of cashless payment systems, and high risks associated with product movement and distribution.

He further described cloud-based e-marketplaces as platforms that enable the publication and transaction of cloud services, allowing providers to advertise their offerings while consumers browse and evaluate available options.

However, he noted that this model is hindered by limited intelligence, manual monitoring, low automation, and weak location awareness and mobility support, leading to the emergence of ad-hoc mobile cloud markets designed to improve adaptability, efficiency, and service delivery.

According to the don, cloud computing serves as the foundational catalyst for Artificial Intelligence by providing the massive infrastructure and computing power required to train and deploy models.

Conversely, AI acts as a catalyst for the evolution of cloud computing by optimising, automating, and driving increased demand for smarter, more efficient cloud services. He described the integration of AI and cloud marketplaces as a symbiotic relationship in which both technologies function as co-catalysts for modern digital innovation.

Prof. Akingbesote, however, highlighted several challenges associated with this technological innovation, including system compatibility, data management, security, cost optimisation, talent gaps, and over-reliance on single providers.

He stressed that for businesses, organisations, and individuals to realise the full potential of AI-cloud e-marketplaces, these challenges must be addressed through standardised protocols, robust security measures, and strategic management.

Looking ahead, he said: “Come 2027 and beyond, we are expecting bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces that will not just execute tasks, but learn, adapt, and grow smarter over time based on real-world experience and feedback.

Rather than being fixed tools, these agents can expand their own capabilities by generating new tools on demand, optimising their workflows, and refining their strategies to tackle increasingly complex challenges.”

To this end, the AI and e-market expert urged the government to increase funding for research and innovation in universities, particularly in AI-cloud technologies, to create opportunities for indigenous researchers to contribute to the emerging vision of AI-cloud e-marketplaces beyond 2027.

He also called on the National Universities Commission (NUC) to establish a dedicated department for AI-cloud studies, aimed at integrating artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and other advanced computing applications into university curricula.

In addition, he advocated for a review of the single-authorship policy in academic staff promotions at some universities, noting that research in the "beyond 2027 AI-cloud e-marketplaces" era demands collaborative efforts among researchers across different disciplines and regions.

Prof. Akingbesote further urged the Nigerian government and universities to adopt bidirectional AI-cloud e-marketplaces to transform teaching, research, and administration, explaining that this would reduce reliance on hardware-heavy infrastructure and transition institutions into more flexible, cost-effective digital environments that support personalised learning, efficient operations, and advanced research.

He added that organisations and business communities stand to benefit significantly from the technology, as it reshapes marketing strategies through improved decision-making, rapid predictions, cost efficiency, and the transformation of traditional systems into intelligent, data-driven frameworks.

To ensure inclusivity, he encouraged small communities, schools, and military bases—particularly those with limited or no infrastructure or those requiring secure communication—to adopt ad-hoc mobile e-marketplaces, which can provide temporary, flexible digital services in areas with poor or unavailable infrastructure.

Earlier in his opening address, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the Occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, commended Prof. Akingbesote for his contributions to teaching, research, and community service, noting that the theme of the 66th inaugural lecture reflects the university's commitment to innovation and societal development.