By Adedapo Adesanya
The rise of artificial intelligence and its revolutionary impact on African business, society, and culture led discussions on the final day (June 2) of GITEX Africa 2023 in Morocco.
Experts from across the globe gathered to debate and advance the transformational new tech that’s now the focal point of worldwide debate.
Speaking at the event, Mr Mubarak Ayanniyi, the 21-year-old founder and CEO of BetaLife, a Nigerian health startup, noted that AI-powered health-tech solutions are helping to transform African blood donations.
BetaLife is a cloud-based AI-powered platform that connects hospitals and blood banks using advanced algorithms, ensuring the efficient flow of lifesaving blood products to needy patients.
The company’s CEO said the greatest advantage of Betalife is its ability to analyse copious data via an AI-powered algorithm that accurately predicts when, where, and in what amounts of blood donations are required, thereby directing resources and allocating donations when needed, ultimately saving countless lives.
“BetaLife has revolutionised how blood donations are managed in Africa”, said Mr Ayanniyi. “Instead of relying on manual processes, hospitals and blood banks are now using BetaLife to predict when and where blood donations are needed most.
“This has led to more efficient distribution of blood products, reducing waste and ensuring that those who need it most receive the lifesaving treatment they require,” he added.
Speaking on another panel discussion, Mr Simon See, the Global Head of Nvidia AI Technology Centre in Singapore, said with the right investments and policies, AI can help Africa to achieve its development goals and improve the lives of its people.
“In Africa, the demand for AI skills is expected to grow by 36 per cent between 2020 and 2025,” said Mr See, whose American-headquartered Nvidia makes specialist AI chips, with a market value that briefly surpassed $1 trillion this week.
“This growth is driven by the continent’s young population and its investments in start-ups and innovation. The growth of AI is creating new jobs in Africa, as companies look to hire experts to help them develop and implement AI-powered products and services.”
GITEX Africa, which concludes today in the Red City of Marrakech, gathered thousands of attendees from 120 countries over its three-day run, all looking to network and develop meaningful business connections with the 900 exhibiting companies and start-ups across 10 halls and 45,000sqm of exhibition expanse.
AI and its far-reaching multisectoral impact were also evident on the exhibition floor, with many exhibitors showcasing how the AI boom is turbocharging waves of innovation across industries, from education and agriculture to transport, retail, energy, or logistics.
