Category: Tech

The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Kenya is predominantly focused on the agricultural sector, with machine learning technologies being utilized to provide data-driven insights that enhance productivity for local farmers. The ‘AI for Africa’ report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA) reveals that agriculture and food security account for 49 percent of all AI applications in Kenya, followed by climate action and energy use cases at 26 percent and 24 percent, respectively.

Sama, a leading provider of data annotation and model validation solutions, has announced an exciting partnership with The University of Nairobi (UoN) to advance the Generative AI (GenAI) industry in Kenya. This collaboration aims to provide UoN students and faculty with invaluable exposure to the rapidly evolving GenAI field through part-time employment opportunities with Sama.

Zoho has partnered with She Code Africa in Nigeria to advance the skills of female tech professionals through its low-code app creation platform, Zoho Creator. This collaboration aims to empower 30 female trainers from She Code Africa Academy with comprehensive training in building enterprise-grade applications using low-code technologies.

The Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT) and the University of Nairobi (UON) have emerged as leaders in AI research in Kenya, with 91 and 90 research publications respectively in the last year. This highlights the significant contributions of these institutions to the advancement of AI technology in the region.

Absa Group and CV VC have released the third African Blockchain Report, highlighting the continent’s expanding share of global blockchain funding. Despite global economic pressures, Africa’s blockchain sector shows resilience, driven by regulatory advancements and contributing significantly to economic growth.

Schneider Electric, in collaboration with Nairobi-based IXAfrica Data Centres, has launched East Africa’s largest hypercloud data centre, named ‘NBOX1’. This Tier 3+ facility is equipped with Schneider Electric’s MV and LV switchgear, ensuring stable and reliable cloud services powered by Kenya’s renewable energy grid.

At the ongoing Pan African Data Centres conference in Sandton, Johannesburg, Roc Bai, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Southern Africa, emphasized the strides made by African fintech firms in developing innovative digital solutions. However, he also underscored significant challenges hindering broader access to these advancements, particularly Africa’s poor internet connectivity and limited cloud access.

Kenya’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) sector received a substantial boost in 2023, securing $15 million (Sh1.95 billion) in funding, according to a new report by the Global System for Mobile Communications Association (GSMA). This impressive figure places Kenya ahead of Nigeria, which garnered $2.9 million (Sh377.9 million) for its AI sector. However, both nations trail behind South Africa, where AI investments reached $123 million (Sh16.02 billion).