iAfrikan BYTES iAfrikan Media

Are you passionate about data science and machine learning? Meet Kathleen Siminyu, a dynamic data scientist and researcher at the Distributed AI Research Institute (DAIR), who excels not only in driving technical innovation but also in fostering inclusivity and community within the field.

In this exclusive interview, Kathleen shares insights into her impactful work, particularly her experiences at Africa’s Talking, her passion for community engagement, and her mission to democratize data science. She discusses her collaborative projects with major partners like Google and other leading organizations, aiming to nurture budding data scientists across Sub-Saharan Africa.

Join us to explore Kathleen's path as a self-taught data scientist, her experiences as a woman in technology, and her forward-thinking views on the future of data science.

In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we are honoured to have Prof. Ulrich Paquet, a leading expert in artificial intelligence and machine learning. With a career spanning over two decades, Ulrich is currently the Director at AIMS South Africa, an institute dedicated to advancing mathematical sciences. Prof. Paquet earned his PhD in Machine Learning from the University of Cambridge’s Computer Laboratory, highlighting his profound academic expertise.
Prof. Ulrich Paquet takes us through the evolution of artificial intelligence in South Africa. He provides a historical overview of the country’s AI winter, a period when progress in the sector was largely stagnant, and discusses its vibrant resurgence as AI technology has advanced and gained widespread popularity.
Furthermore, Prof. Paquet shares insights from his time at Microsoft Research, where he contributed to the development of the Xbox One console, illustrating the pivotal role of academic research in industry applications.
Join us for an enlightening conversation with one of the foremost minds in AI and machine learning.

In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES, we delve into the vibrant world of AI and machine learning in Africa with Amal Rannen-Triki, a seasoned researcher and advocate for ML communities across the continent. Amal begins by introducing us to IndabaX, a grassroots movement aiming to democratize AI education and foster local ML talent. She highlights the significance of these small, localized events happening in 47 African states, providing invaluable learning and networking opportunities for enthusiasts and professionals alike.

As a member of the Deep Learning Indaba steering committee, Amal shares insights into the challenges of organizing the Indaba, particularly navigating the uncertainties inherent in coordinating across diverse regions with varying infrastructural and logistical considerations.

Join us as we explore the journey of the Indaba and the remarkable efforts of individuals like Amal Rannen-Triki in shaping the future of AI and machine learning in Africa, one community at a time.

Four months away from the start of Deep Learning Indaba in Senegal, we are joined by one of the Indaba’s founders, Dr. Shakir Mohamed. As a board member of NeurIPS and recognised as one of Time Magazine's '100 Most Influential People in AI,' Dr Mohamed has made substantial contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and machine learning

In this episode, Dr Mohamed reflects on the early years of Indaba and describes how the initiative strengthens opportunities and connections within the African ecosystem, making significant contributions to the global body of machine learning and artificial intelligence research.  

Dr. Mohamed also shares his personal journey, inspired by Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, the current rector of the United Nations University, to pursue postgraduate studies. He discusses how advancements in AI and machine learning are transforming industries and integrating academic disciplines.

AI and machine learning technologies are being used in numerous industries that were previously thought to be restricted to using conventional production techniques.

In this episode of iAfrikan BYTES features a talk between Daniela Massiceti and us as part of our ongoing coverage series on African AI and machine learning research. Daniela is an intriguing and surprising person who specializes in machine learning and human-computer interfaces.

Daniela clarifies the precise meaning of human-computer interactions and discusses how they are used in business. She also discusses how The Indaba has influenced her thoughts and methodology around AI and machine learning.

Cognitive scientist, Prof. Abebe Birhane, joined iAfrikan for an episode of iAfrikan BYTES, live at the University of Ghana during Deep Learning Indaba in September 2023.
Awarded Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in AI"  Abebe helped establish the field of auditing publicly available AI training datasets. This is very important because it keeps dangerous datasets from being gathered, which could cause AI to inherently be biased, sexist, or racist.
In our conversation, Abebe shares insights on her recent paper, on how she and co authors came to the startling conclusion that AI models trained on larger datasets are more likely to display harmful biases and stereotypes. 

In addition, she discusses the importance of the Kambule Doctoral Award, Alele-Williams Masters Award, and Maathai Impact Award on the fringes of the Indaba in her role as an awards committee member.