African AI Foundation Partners With American Spaces to Equip 1,000 People With AI Skills

Since the introduction of AI systems such as ChatGPT, Mid Journey, Dall-e, and Bard, a lot of individuals have become concerned about how AI would affect their businesses and occupations.

It’s interesting to note that any significant advancement in technology simultaneously provides new categories and opportunities while also seriously disrupting other industries and domains.

Every person involved should put their major effort towards learning new skills so they may remain relevant both during and after the disturbance. Disruptive periods are always accompanied with enormous opportunities, which can only be taken advantage of by those who are prepared to participate in the disruption.

To help Africans better engage in the ongoing AI revolution, the African AI Foundation and the American Spaces have partnered to yearly train 1,000 people in AI abilities. It is well known that Africa has largely been excluded from all major historical revolutions, including the Industrial Revolution, the Agricultural Revolution, and even the most recent Information Technology Revolution.

Africa only accounts for less than 1% of the $5 trillion global IT sector, which is dominated by American, European, and Asian firms like Intel, Apple, CISCO, Google, Microsoft, Foxconn, Huawei, and ASML. When people were still unsure about the internet’s powers and potential, the major revenue generators in today’s IT revolution began experimenting and examining opportunities.

By 2030, it is expected that the AI revolution, which is now at the internet revolution’s 1990s stage, would have increased the global GDP by up to $15 trillion. The goal of the African AI Foundation and the American spaces is to have Africa actively participate in the AI revolution and to increase its GDP by mobilizing an army of Africans who will actively define the course of innovation rather than passively observing as Africa previously did. Africa can influence the path of the growth of AI by actively collaborating and adapting AI solutions to regional issues that are unique to Africans.

Oyinlola Israel, an IT professional with 15 years of industry experience, founded the non-profit African AI Foundation. The African AI Foundation program is expected to take place yearly starting in 2023, with assistance from a group of impact-driven AI specialists and volunteers from all around the world.

The African AI Foundation and American Spaces will host a free AI Bootcamp for three months, followed by a month of hackathons. Classes will be held online every Saturday beginning on July 15 at 5 PM WAT. Those who want to attend in person can do so on Wednesdays from 3 PM to 5 PM at the American Corner Ikeja, located at No. 44, Local Airport Road, Ikeja.

Additionally, computers with Google Colab memberships are available at the American Corner Ikeja for students to practice the AI abilities they have learned in class. Access to all American Corner materials is available Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM.

The African AI Foundation and the American Corner are investing in lowering entry barriers so that practically anyone with the desire to study and regularly upskill may be relevant in spite of the impending AI disruption. The future is for those who are able to build it. Visit https://bit.ly/join-ai-bootcamp to sign up for free and get prepared for success.