Synopsis
Ethiopia is marketing itself as the leading artificial intelligence (AI) player in Africa. The country is not just mouthing off though – it has some credits to back its claim. Some parts of Sophia the robot were developed right in Addis Ababa. Several Ethiopian startups are also using AI to develop products like language apps focused on local languages. Ethiopia is covering its base on the policy side too, with a new artificial intelligence institute, and a national AI policy in the making. But does this east African country have what it takes to be the AI powerhouse while avoiding ethical problems?
Listen
Guests
Hruy Tsegaye is a leading AI voice in Ethiopia. He is a co-founder at iCog Labs, the first private AI/Robotics company in East Africa - and the CEO of Mindplex, a decentralized media platform. Hruy is also a prolific AI researcher, and has published multiple articles on the state of AI in Africa. You can find some of his pieces on how decentralised AI can help solve development problems here.
Abdullahi Tsanni is a science journalist currently reporting for the prestigious MIT Tech Review in Boston. His work, which covers a wide range of issues across technology, science and health, has appeared in publications like STAT News, Nature, and The British Medical Journal. His recent report on the startups leading the race in programming AI specifically for African languages like Amharic is here.
Finally, Dr Taye Girma is the Deputy Director General at the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute, and is one of the brains behind the upcoming national AI policy. The Institute is one of the first such government departments in Africa, and is working on how AI can help boost the health, finance, transportation and agriculture sectors. Dr Girma is one of the founders of the Institute, and is at the center of AI research and practice in Ethiopia. He is also a professor of Computer Engineering with a focus on AI at the Addis Ababa Science and Technology University.
Further readings
Nation Strengthening AI Technology to Modernize, Enhance Efficiency: Institute Director-General: https://www.ena.et/web/eng/w/eng_3633464
Whose Job Will AI Replace? Here's Why a Clerk in Ethiopia Has More to Fear Than One in California: https://theconversation.com/whose-job-will-ai-replace-heres-why-a-clerk-in-ethiopia-has-more-to-fear-than-one-in-california-216735
Grand Challenges Ethiopia: Catalyzing Equitable AI Use to Improve Global Health: https://www2.fundsforngos.org/latest-funds-for-ngos/grand-challenges-ethiopia-catalyzing-equitable-ai-use-to-improve-global-health/
The AI Startup Outperforming Google Translate in Ethiopian Languages: https://restofworld.org/2023/3-minutes-with-asmelash-teka-hadgu/
Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institutes Discusses Intellectual Property Rights for its Products: https://www.aii.et/ethiopian-artificial-intelligence-institutes-discuss-about-the-intellectual-property-rights-for-the-products-developed-by-the-institute/
African Union (AU) Continental AI Strategy for Africa: https://www.nepad.org/news/african-union-artificial-intelligence-continental-strategy-africa
A Sceptical Approach to the Future of AI and Emerging Technologies in Today’s Africa:https://medium.com/@Hruy.T/a-sceptical-approach-to-the-future-of-ai-and-emerging-technologies-in-todays-africa-d03abb04b8bf
The Future of AI Statistics in Africa - Is the Continent Really Ready?: https://www.isi-web.org/article/future-ai-statistics-africa-continent-ready#:~:text=digital%20solutions%20into%20their%20statistical,steps%20to%20formulate%20AI%20policies
