A new partnership will support the continent in deploying locally developed artificial intelligence (AI) solutions.
The United Nations Development Programme and mobile research agency GSMA are leveraging their respective strengths to connect African AI developers with opportunities to build and deploy AI solutions that address Africa’s own priorities, according to Africa Business Communities.
‘Africa has the talent and creativity to shape the future of artificial intelligence,’ said Aissata De, officer-in-charge and regional director for Africa at UNDP, speaking at the launch of the initiative in New York. ‘Through this partnership, we will help connect innovators to the infrastructure, skills and opportunities needed to develop and scale AI solutions that address Africa’s priorities and create opportunities for young people across the continent.’
The programme, which will be run under the UNDP’s Timbuktoo initiative, will have a strong focus on AI built for African languages. The programme will complement GSMA’s wider work on African language AI through its Atlas Umoja AI.
In addition to improving access to computing infrastructure for priority projects, the two organisations will also support the deployment of locally developed AI tools and identify pathways for long-term sustainability and scale.
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The programme is expected to benefit from the GSMA’s mobile industry expertise and networks as well as the UNDP’s development programmes and innovation platforms.
‘Africa’s AI future must be shaped by its own talent and reflect the languages and needs of its communities,’ said Angela Wamola, head of Africa at the GSMA. ‘The mobile industry has an important role to play in helping locally developed solutions reach the people and businesses that can benefit from them.’
