Minister to open AI expo
Bontle Moeng
Communications Minister Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams is set to deliver the opening address at the AI Expo Africa 2020; which will be held online on 3 and 4 September 2020.
Now in its third year, the expo is one of the continent’s largest trade-focused Artificial Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation and Data Science business conference.
Ndabeni-Abrahams said this event is taking place at a time when the world is grappling with new realities brought by the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Advances in artificial intelligence technologies hold the promise of finding solutions to help us solve the challenges we are facing. The world is undergoing changes due to advances in technology, and progress made in artificial intelligence (AI). Similarly the continent and South Africa are going through same profound changes,” she said.
The speaker line-up features Kay Firth-Butterfield, head of AI and Machine Learning at the World Economic Forum; Neil Sahota, IBM master inventor, UN AI expert and lecturer at University of California, Fred Werner, head of Strategic Engagement at the International Telecommunication Union, Bayo Adekanmbi, CTO MTN Nigeria and founder of Data Science Nigeria, as well as Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg and deputy head of the 4IR Commission of South Africa.
The expo has drawn vendors like SAP, Huawei Cloud, Blue Prism, UiPath, Intel, Dell, Microsoft and Genesys’who will exhibit their solutions and products at the expo. They will be joined by local startups that include Ashanti AI, Botlhale AI Solutions, DotModus, Predictive Insights, FinChatBot, FIRtech, Learning Machines, Kenai, Heat Vision AI, WizzPass, Zindi, Synthesis and Future Fragment.
The expo will also feature French, Dutch and Swiss pavilions where startups will showcase their AI and Data Science innovations and solutions.
Delegates can also look forward to an Intel Youth in AI ePavilion which aims to foster inclusion of youth-focused AI entities and initiatives.
AI Media Group co-founder and AI Expo Africa curator Nick Bradshaw says this is the third year of the event.
“We have taken the entire community online this year, meaning we can reach more countries and include more people. This also serves as a 30 day learning platform after the main event ends. All the talks, vendor booths, posters and content are available for young people, students and entrepreneurs from across South Africa and Africa to learn about the latest technology driving the 4IR in Africa. It’s a great opportunity for big business to find new buyers and suppliers, for start-ups to find more clients, and for young people to learn and even find jobs,” Bradshaw adds. BiznisAfrica
