LEARN ABOUT US
We are innovators —-
MAGNIFYING AFRIKA’S POTENTIAL WITH AI DRIVEN SOLUTIONS.
The uBuntu Approach
We are guided by the African concept of uBuntu: a belief that affirms the positive values of community, difference, antiracism, hospitality, and openness to others.
AI4AFRIKA@UW is an applied research project that is led by Sheriff Issaka with guidance from the African Studies Program, the Computer Science Department, and the Data Science Institute at the University of Wisconsin Madison with the goal of creating responsible, equitable, and accessible AI technologies.
We believe the least represented in the AI creation process are the most affected and we seek to be part of the positive change process.
AI4AFRIKA
A cross-sectoral ‘think and do’ consortium dedicated to the inclusion of African talents and perspectives in the development of AI.
Reginold Royston. PhD
Project Advisor. Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
“We must understand and appreciate Machine Learning’s ability to mimic human intelligence is based off of purely mathematical understanding of data points. That the source of the data is humans, and those data must represent humans in all their fullness.”
About us —–
We are guided by the principles of uBuntu
AI4Afrika@UW seeks to amplify the voices, ideologies, and ways of life of the Africana community, not just in Africa, but all persons of African descent around the globe. We believe that AI should be build and used for an agreed upon vision of unity, equality, antiracism, hospitality, and an embracement of the positive values of difference.
Ongoing Projects —–
Making Technology Equitable and Accessible
Ongoing projects at AI4AFRIKA@UW include the Machine Translation of African languages, a conversational chatbot that answers menstrual and mental health questions and the cross platform mobile application that houses these technologies to make them more accessible, even without internet availability.
Ama S. Wray. PhD
Professor at University of California, Irvine
“We begin with the explicit understanding that ‘Artificial Intelligence’ is, at its core, ‘Human Intelligence’ and as such, it tends to replicate, reiterate, and reproduce many elements the worldview of the consciousness that created it.”
Explore with us
Come along on this exciting journey of building responsible and accessible AI technologies.