16 posts tagged with "featured"

During COVID I decided to take a break from building tech and joined my brothers to help them with their construction business. Neither event was connected, but t'was the season and I dove in.

While software development is a young people's game, civil engineering is as old as the earliest civilizations. When they say "Rome wasn't built in a day", they mean it. The amount of planning, coordination, and supervision that goes into building a house, road, or bridge is staggering. And while developing apps does take its fair share of planning and coordination, the opportunity to learn from a different perspective was revalatory.

When you're building a house, you can't just hope it turns out right. You have to be there, every day, checking the progress, making sure the materials are right, and the workers are doing their job. You have to be there to catch mistakes early, before they become costly problems. You have to be there to answer questions, provide guidance, and make decisions.

I learnt what BoQs are, how to read them, and how to make sure the materials specified are the ones being used. I learnt how to read blueprints, how to understand the different types of concrete, and how to make sure the foundation is solid. I learnt how to manage contractors and sub-contractors, how to keep them on schedule, and how to make sure they deliver quality work.

Undo buttons are cheap in software. In construction, they're expensive. You can't just refactor a wall or move a foundation. You have to get it right the first time. And to get it right, you have to be there, every day, making sure it's done right. This is what one contractor told me: Hope is not a strategy.

The United Nations High-level Advisory Body on Artificial Intelligence report on global governance of AI, outlining concerns and recommending solutions for the global governance of artificial intelligence (AI). The report explores the potential of AI to benefit humanity, including its impact on scientific advancement and economic growth, while acknowledging its risks. The report makes the case for the need for a global governance framework to manage these risks and ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equitably. The report's recommendations include the creation of an international scientific panel, a global fund for AI, and a capacity development network, as well as proposing a new role for the United Nations to lead the international dialogue on AI governance. The report also discusses the importance of international cooperation and the need for a more inclusive approach to AI governance, particularly considering the needs of marginalized communities and developing countries.

While heavily US leaning, here are some takeaways on Kenya (and Africa) from the AI Index Report 2024 released by Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (HAI):

1. 👩🏾‍🔬 Africa's Representation in NeurIPS Women in Machine Learning workshop is increasing: In 2023, 8.93% identified as coming from the continent compared to 3.40% in 2022. That's an almost 3x shift

The Nigerian Naira plunged 31% against the dollar , and the Kenyan Shilling lost 23% of its value in the past few months. These top two worst performers in Africa in 2024 are the continent's top two technology powerhouses. Therefore, while currency depreciation has had microeconomic implications, it highlights the dire need to take a critical look at Africa's innovation, technology, and AI ecosystem. Ory Okolloh, a prominent Technologist, Kenyan Investor and Philanthropist, posted this on her LinkedIn:

Her post represents the broader issue of access to computing in today's world and raises the question of digital sovereignty, a catchphrase used in the push for digital regulations.

In the first of a six-part paper, we have developed a framework through which we will contribute to Africans' discussions and perspectives on the design, development, and governance of Artificial Intelligence in Africa. This includes Data and Data Systems, AI Infrastructure, Talent, and Market.

This article was originally published in the Business Daily on 2024-03-07.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) stands at the forefront of technological innovation. It promises to revolutionise industries and economies worldwide. According to a study by PwC, AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2030. This staggering figure underscores the immense potential AI holds for driving economic growth and prosperity. However, for e-traders in East-Africa, individuals or businesses that conduct retail operations online, to fully capitalise on this opportunity they must not only embrace AI but also make a deliberate effort to understand its dynamics.

Illustration by Neema Iyer

Civic Tech, eGov and Digital Public Goods walk into a bar…

…the bartender asks, “the usual?” then hands them one drink.

"Only while sleeping one makes no mistakes. Making mistakes is the privilege of the active — of those who can correct their mistakes and put them right."
– Ingvar Kamprad (1926-2018)

Six years after his passing on January 27th, 2018, Ingvar Kamprad's vision and values continue to steer IKEA. His 1976 testament and 1996 dictionary laid out principles that fuelled IKEA's growth from a small business to a global furniture icon. As we mark the anniversary of Kamprad's death, his wisdom on leadership, serving people, embracing humility, and simplicity remains as relevant as ever. These documents were not fixed manifestos, but living guides that still motivate and inspire. By revisiting Kamprad's own words, we reconnect with the human core of IKEA's brand - the deeper purpose beyond products and profits. Though Kamprad is no longer with us, his voice carries on.

Since its release in November 2022, ChatGPT, an AI chatbot from OpenAI, has become a viral phenomenon. It can generate human-like text and carry out natural conversations on a wide range of topics. But, what is the origin of the name "ChatGPT"?

I would have liked to present you with a smorgasbord of data from my life in 2023 instead I have a few words, a few pictures, and a few lists. I hope you enjoy them.

"The great truism that underlies the civic technology movement of the last several years is that governments face difficulty implementing technology, and they generally manage IT assets and projects very poorly." – Mark Headd