Connecting Africa is part of the Informa Tech Division of Informa PLC

This site is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 3099067.

Enterprise

AI: Human Capacity Reimagined

Article Image
Artificial intelligence is already having an impact across Africa: Nigerian doctors are experimenting with AI for medical diagnoses; Sophia, the robot who was granted Saudi Arabian citizenship last year, was partly developed in Ethiopia; and Google has recently announced that it is opening an AI research centre in Accra, Ghana.

Sophia the robot was partly developed in Ethiopia.
Sophia the robot was partly developed in Ethiopia.

The impact of AI is already apparent in most global industries -- retail, oil & gas, finance, health, IT, energy, telecoms, as well as transport, travel & tourism and media -- and has the potential to reach more and do more. In a 2017 report, PwC estimated that AI tech could increase the GDP of Africa, the Middle East and the developing regions of Asia by US$1.2 trillion by 2030.

The world’s leading conference on artificial intelligence and machine learning in coming to the continent this year to explore this potential. Following successful events in San Francisco, New York and London, the AI Summit Cape Town will be launched at AfricaCom this November with two days of stimulating presentations, debate and insights. It is aimed at CxOs, CDOs and leading innovators keen to future-proof their businesses and understand the opportunities this game-changing technology has for revenue generation and, importantly, socio-economic inclusion.

Tom Cuthell, Portfolio Director of KNect365, and the organiser of AfricaCom, is confident that the AI Summit in Cape Town will be as informative and well subscribed as its international counterparts. He says: "AI is changing how we work and how we think. It is both an opportunity and a challenge. While AfricaCom 2017 touched on the subject, it has grown at such a pace that we wanted to devote an entire track to it to encourage its exploration as a tool for advancement, hence the launch of the AI Summit Cape Town. With an international line-up of expert speakers, and the importance of the conversations around artificial intelligence and machine learning, we expect a significant gathering of minds."

The AI Summit in London earlier this year.
The AI Summit in London earlier this year.

The AI Summit Cape Town is a rich source of practical technical insights and sessions geared to enhancing how we work and play, and while it is focused on business applications, it will also show how AI has the power to help digitize Africa's communities. From helping in workforce training, to saving lives through innovative healthcare applications and even helping to improve crop returns -- think data-assimilating drones that show the farmer where to plant the seeds and when best to harvest, or using AI algorithms and Big Data in real time to monitor global fishing patterns to highlight overfishing -- AI is re-formatting how we function. Experts such as Benji Meltzer, CTO at Aerobotics and Manu Kumar, CDO of BUPA, will share their expertise and insights into how AI can benefit the planet, people and even boost profits.

Retailers, whether digital or bricks and mortar businesses, will also get the chance to discover how AI can deliver benefits. Berdine Viljoen, CIO of the JD Group, one of South Africa's largest mass-consumer value lifestyle and finance corporations, will explain how retailers can harness the power of AI, while Tomisin Fashina, CIO of Ecobank Group, shares how Africa has used the technology to change the banking landscape.

But the impact AI could have on the workforce is a fear for many. Low-skilled jobs are already threatened by artificial intelligence and a great many of the jobs that exist today could be filled by machines and robots in the future. With high levels of unemployment in Africa, particularly youth unemployment, there are concerns that the development of artificial intelligence could adversely impact the population. The mining sector in South Africa, for example, is a major employer, but a huge number of roles in this sector could soon be replaced by a machine workforce. These topics, and more, will be examined and debated by experts such as Dhanaraj Thakur (The Web Foundation), Chetan Trivedi (Hindustan Zinc Ltd) and Matthew French (Future Advocacy).

Cuthell sums it up: "As exciting as the possibilities are for AI, it would be remiss of us as conference organisers not to be mindful of the risks unfettered deployment of this technology can bring. The AI Summit Cape Town will be thought provoking, but it will also be an important centre for responsible learning and determining Africa's way forward -- one that has a reasoned future."

To attend this fascinating look into the future, and to network with like-minded futurists (some 14,000 of them are set to attend AfricaCom in 2018), visitors and delegates should register on the AfricaCom site. Access to the full AfricaCom offering of more than 15 business critical conference tracks, two exhibition halls, 450 speakers and the AFEST official networking party are guaranteed.

— Gabriella Jeakins, Digital Content Marketer, KNect365, for Connecting Africa.

Innovation hub

Story

Hot startup of the month: Nigeria's Tech Herfrica

Connecting Africa's hot startup is Nigeria's Tech Herfrica, a social impact organization that focuses on the digital and financial inclusion of women and girls in rural areas of Nigeria.

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Innovation hub

Latest video

More videos

Partner perspectives

All Partner Perspectives

Sponsored video

More videos

Industry announcements

More Industry announcements

Upcoming events

Africa Tech Festival 2024
November 11-14, 2024
Cape Town, South Africa
More Upcoming events

Africa Tech Perspectives

Story

Uber's Marjorie Saint-Lot on inclusion and sustainability in Africa

Uber's Country Manager for Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, Marjorie Saint-Lot, shares how the ride-hailing company is approaching public-private partnerships, environmentally friendly initiatives and gender inclusion in Africa.

Story

The 100 most influential African leaders in 2023

A new report from Africa Tech Festival and Connecting Africa puts a spotlight on the top 100 African leaders in the telecoms and technology sector in 2023.

Story

Deep dive into East Africa's tech startup ecosystem

New survey reveals a lack of access to investors, reliance on international VCs and global recession trends as the biggest barriers for East African tech startups to access funds.

More Africa Tech perspectives

Guest Perspectives

Story

Omdia View: February 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in February 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included 5G launches in Senegal and 5G trials in Egypt as well as Kenya's first 5G MVNO. Airtel also launched a new wholesale connectivity business while MTN and Huawei are planning a joint Innovation Technology Lab in South Africa – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

Story

Omdia View: January 2024

By Omdia Analysts

Highlights in January 2024 in the Middle East and Africa included a $200 million fintech deal between MTN and Mastercard as well as 5G network trials by Telecom Egypt – that and more in this month's Omdia View.

More Guest Perspectives

Like us on Facebook

Newsletter Sign Up


Sign Up
Tag id test-002