Kenya: 2nd Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Summit Held in Nairobi

15 November 2023
Capital FM (Nairobi)

Nairobi — @iLabAfrica-Strathmore University last week opened the 2nd Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (GDSAI) Summit in Nairobi.

The event was attended by @iLabAfrica Director Joseph Sevilla, African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA) Secretary General Mene Wamkele, and Absa Kenya Chief Data Officer Hartnell Ndungi, among others.

The two-day summit featured discussions on pertinent topics, including data protection and governance in the artificial intelligence (AI) era, shedding light on the ethical considerations surrounding data and AI utilization across various sectors in Kenya.

"I am happy that we are hosting the 2nd GDSAI Summit that focuses on emerging technology in the areas of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AI)," Sevilla said.

"We are looking to find ways in which technology can be used for good in Kenya, and we are glad that we are now seeing new global companies such as Google, Amazon, and Apple exploring innovative opportunities in our country," he added.

"This collaborative effort between local initiatives and global tech giants has the potential to bring about positive change and drive technological advancements that benefit Kenya and the world at large."

The summit attracted over 150 professionals, CEOs, and other senior managers, a representation of over 20 countries across the world, and offered networking opportunities with various sponsors, speakers, and partners.

Participants discussed topics such as inclusivity, digital transformation, and analytics in financial institutions.

Others were the use of data to improve health services and analysis, as well as AI in health, et cetera.

"The 2nd GDSAI Summit has brought together over 150 key industry stakeholders from diverse sectors, to demonstrate the transformative power of data science and AI in revolutionizing lives," said John Olukuru, Head of Data Science and Analytics at @iLabAfrica.

Last year, the first edition of the GDSAI attracted over 50 science professionals, academic practitioners, students, and members of the community and was themed 'Cultivating Data Science Research in Africa'.

It is set to play a key role in addressing many of the continent's challenges.

In Kenya, AI has been applied across several sectors, such as agriculture, health, education, fintech, and transport, among others.

In 2018, the Kenyan government commissioned the Blockchain and AI Taskforce to provide directions on how best to utilize AI.

Its focus was on the creation of functional data ecosystems and a culture of data use by making official data open and encouraging the uptake and use of data by decision-makers at national and subnational levels.

Read the original article on Capital FM.

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