3rd Pan-African AI Conference kicks Off in Addis Ababa 

Addis Ababa October 8/2024 (ENA)The 3rd Pan-African Artificial Intelligence (AI) Conference kicked off at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa today under the theme “Empowering Africa with Artificial Intelligence."

Senior government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh are attending the two-day conference, organized by the Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute. 

Researchers, young technologists and stakeholders from different countries have also been participating at the conference.

Opening the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said that we are at the right time to move Africa towards a better development journey through artificial intelligence.

He mentioned that Ethiopia has started using artificial intelligence for health, agriculture and other development sectors.

Temesgen said that the sector plays an important role in technological infrastructure and youth entrepreneurship to ensure economic transition.

The Deputy PM  highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in Africa’s pursuit to create a better continent by integrating their indigenous knowledge with the sector. 

In order to compete and benefit from the world, it is necessary to make full use of the continental capabilities, Temesgen said stressing the importance of enhancing cross-border cooperation. 

The Director General of Artificial Intelligence, Worku Gachena said for his part artificial intelligence is a crucial instrument to making Africa's development a reality. 

In this regard, he said Ethiopia has established an independent institution as the country gives high priority to the development of the sector, noting the efforts being carried out to make the institution influential across the continent.

A number of scientific research works on artificial intelligence will be presented and discussed at the two-day conference.