Our Deep Learning Indaba 2024 story
The 2024 Deep Learning Indaba, a pivotal event in Africa’s AI ecosystem, took place from 1st to 7th September at Amadou Mahtar Mbow University (UAM) in Dakar, Senegal. This gathering of AI professionals, researchers, and enthusiasts aimed to spark dialogue, foster collaboration, and advance AI across the continent.
As a leading player in African AI, we proudly participated, sharing our knowledge, showcasing our impacts, and conducting a workshop. Our involvement contributed significantly to nurturing AI talent and driving innovation across Africa.
Key Highlights: We Came
The event brought together over 600 global AI experts, creating a dynamic hub of innovation and collaboration. Attendees engaged in diverse tutorials and practical sessions, exploring AI applications crucial to Africa’s development. This showcased Africa’s growing presence in the global AI landscape.
Led by world-class industry leaders, the event offered unique networking and knowledge-sharing opportunities, expanding our insights into AI and NLP in Africa and the Global South. A standout moment was our Startup (Equalyz_AI) presentation at the African AI Startup Session, which highlighted Africa’s rich talent and innovation.
Our Engagement & Contributions: We Saw
Our impact as a community empowering Africans through training and inclusion was prominently showcased. We highlighted our role in building AI capacity across the continent and proudly presented our IndabaX award-winning paper, which resonated deeply with attendees.
We also co-hosted the African NLP Workshop, “Voices of Africa: Building Infrastructures for African NLP,” emphasizing the need for localized AI solutions for African languages. Our presence included a community hangout, reconnecting members from across Africa, and sponsor booths showcasing our achievements in AI. William Tjhi’s insights on SEA-LION during the workshop reinforced the importance of linguistic diversity in AI development.
Key Outcomes & Achievements: We Conquered
The Deep Learning Indaba served as a melting pot of brilliant ideas and a platform that solidified our standing in the African AI landscape. Listening to diverse perspectives from various players within the AI and NLP ecosystems across Africa and the Global South reaffirmed the importance of cross-collaboration in pushing the boundaries of AI in emerging markets.
We are deeply grateful for the new partnerships formed at the conference, which hold the potential to accelerate our goals and broaden our reach. Our award-winning research gained recognition, validating our team’s innovation. Our role in nurturing Africa’s AI community was also acknowledged, showcasing the impact of our training, upskilling, and inclusive efforts.
Our experience at the conference underscored that we are indeed on the right path. However, it also reminded us of the journey ahead as we work towards our ambitious goal of raising 1 million AI talents and building solutions that enhance the quality of life for 2 billion people in emerging markets.
Conclusion: Looking Ahead
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the organizers, sponsors, partners, and our fellow workshop co-organizers for their collaboration in making the “Voices of Africa” workshop such a resounding success.
As we look forward to next year’s Indaba in Rwanda, we remain committed to advancing Africa’s AI ecosystem and supporting the next generation of AI talent and solutions that will transform lives across the continent.
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