iAfrikan BYTES

What does it take to create Artificial Intelligence (AI) that serves humanity rather than exploits it? In this unmissable episode of the iAfrikan Bytes, cognitive scientist and Time Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People in AI honoree, Abeba Birhane, dives deep into the pressing ethical challenges and groundbreaking opportunities in AI. Abeba brings a fresh, African perspective to the global AI conversation, shedding light on its potential to amplify indigenous languages and preserve cultural heritage. But she doesn’t shy away from tough truths calling out Big Tech’s dominance, exposing the risks of biased datasets, and warning of AI’s role in widening inequality if left unchecked. “AI has the power to empower or exploit. We need to take control of its narrative, especially as Africans,” says Abeba. This is more than just a podcast, it’s a call to action for African scholars, innovators and anyone who believes in a fair, inclusive tech future. Abeba’s insights will challenge your thinking and inspire you to see AI as a tool for change not just profit. Don’t miss this eye-opening conversation.

During the Deep Learning Indaba 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, iAfrikan sat down with Pelonomi Moiloa, CEO of Lelapa AI, and Jade Abbott, CTO, to explore their journey and contributions to African AI development. Lelapa AI has recently launched innovative tools like Vula Vula, a multilingual communication platform, and InkubaLM, a language model designed to support African languages. In October 2024, they hosted a Demo Day to showcase these advancements and their impact. In this interview, Moiloa and Abbott discuss their approach to responsible AI, the challenges of developing technology in African contexts, and their vision for the future.

While Lelapa AI’s efforts highlight the importance of addressing Africa’s unique challenges, the broader question remains: Can these innovations move beyond prototypes to achieve lasting impact? Watch the interviews below for deeper insights into the journey and what lies ahead.

Lelapa AI’s work is part of a growing narrative about Africa’s role in technology, but it also raises a critical issue whether local solutions will scale effectively or remain experiments in a rapidly changing landscape.

In the bustling halls of the Deep Learning Indaba 2024 in Dakar, Senegal, iAfrikan caught up with Karim Beguir, the visionary CEO of InstaDeep. Fresh off a $680 million acquisition by BioNTech, the deal stands as Africa’s largest deep-tech exit, propelling the Tunisian-born AI company into the global spotlight. But with big opportunities come tough questions: Can InstaDeep maintain its bold, African-led vision under the weight of a global biotech giant? The stakes couldn’t be higher. At the AI Day on October 1, 2024, InstaDeep unveiled new breakthroughs in AI-driven biology, promising to reshape drug discovery. At the same time, the company is expanding into Rwanda, next year’s host of the Indaba, signaling a deeper push into Africa’s tech ecosystem.

CEO and Co-Founder of Lelapa AI Pelonomi Moiloa,joins us in our latest episode of iAfrikan Bytes. Pelonomi’s story is one of passion, perseverance, and pivoting. Initially drawn to biomedical and electrical engineering due to her fascination with artificial organs and limbs, she found herself increasingly captivated by AI's potential within the biomedical field. Her academic pursuits took her from the University of Witwatersrand to Tohoku University in Japan, where she earned a master’s degree focusing on the intersection of bioengineering and AI. She passionately discusses projects like Vulavula, which uses AI to enhance natural language processing for African languages, and her latest endeavor to train AI models to accurately pronounce South African names—a project close to her heart. She also shares the exciting journey from being a scholar to becoming a CEO, a transition that’s as challenging as it is rewarding. If you’re looking to understand how AI can be a tool for cultural empowerment and want to be inspired by a leader who’s breaking new ground, this episode is a must-listen. Pelonomi Moiloa is not just shaping the future of AI in Africa; she’s ensuring that this future is inclusive, diverse, and deeply connected to the continent’s rich heritage.