The Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII) successfully launched the third edition of the PanAfriCon AI 2024 at the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum, attracting over 1,500 participants on its opening day.
The conference commenced with the keynote address from Deputy PM Temesgen Tiruneh. The Deputy PM indicated the critical need for collaboration among African nations to fully realize the benefits of AI technology. Deputy PM Temesgen Tiruneh declared that Africa is not a passive consumer of technology, but rather ready to lead in the field.
The General Director of the EAII, Worku Gachena (Ph.D.), remarked that AI is not just a tool for advancement; it is the pathway to empowerment for Africa. During the morning panel discussion, the need to establish a Pan-African AI Institute dedicated to addressing the continent’s challenges through AI, while underscoring the importance of ethical AI governance. The panel discussion featured in-person and virtual expert discussions.
The afternoon session featured 15 research topics by AI experts. These topics revolved around 3 key thematic areas: AI in Cybersecurity, Natural Language Processing (NLP), and AI Applications.
The conference will conclude tomorrow with additional discussions and presentations on further research topics within these thematic areas.
