Africa is improving the way it solves problems through self-designed and self-managing artificial intelligence. (fake images)
TOAfrica is improving the way it solves problems through self-designed and self-managing artificial intelligence.
This week, the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubelein partnership with Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the University of Johannesburg, launched the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa (AIISA).
AIISA will focus on three sectors of the economy: the fourth industrial revolution in manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture and food processing.
Other entities are also stepping up to develop AI, such as family AIwhich launched two weeks ago as an Africa-focused product and research lab.
The future that Lelapa AI envisions “is one where AI helps people solve contemporary challenges,” CEO Pelonomi Moiloa said.
Lelapa AI focuses on natural language processing, which allows the user to interact with the services in their native language.
“Language is an important component in gaining trust and understanding,” Moiloa said.
The origins of the center are rooted in Deep Learning Indaba, which has been held annually since 2017, on machine learning and AI in Africa.
AI creates solutions “that are more secure, solutions that require limited resources because of cost or because resources don’t exist, such as data,” and solutions that would not otherwise be possible due to limited human resources, Moiloa said, referring to the initiative of the National Department of Health. MomConnect, which supports women’s maternal health through cell phone technology.
AI is helping smallholder farmers with crop monitoring in Uganda, microfinancing for African businesses, and data analysis to improve business performance.
In 2014, Kenya’s largest energy provider, Kenya Power, announced the implementation of an automated system that analyzes real-time data with historical data for the utility to scale up its operations.