ADDIS ABABA- Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute (EBI), Emerging Technology Center (ETC), and Ministry of Science and Higher Education urged the government and other stakeholders to develop and implement Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the 2nd national AI workshop launched yesterday.
EBI Director Dr. Kassahun Tesfaye said that it is high time to use all opportunities to develop AI and put it into practice.
“Researchers, engineers, government and private technology companies should see opportunities and alternatives to develop and make use of AI to transform Ethiopia’s economy,” he emphasized.
State Minister of Science and Higher Education Prof. Afework Kassu, for his part, told The Ethiopian Herald that the government should take policy measures to benefit from AI.
“The recent attempts at universities and technological companies need to receive more incentives to enhance the development. The ministry has been striving to utilize all possibilities to enhance digitalization,” he noted.
Chief Executive Officer of iCog Labs Getnet Assefa, also told this reporter that Ethiopia has the potential to produce competitive AI. But, he said finance and educated human power is still so scarce in Ethiopia to compete with other nations.
“AI does not require rigorous training when compared to other fields; thus Ethiopia can tap the area only by availing other resources like finance.
The Ethiopian Herald July 5/2019
BY YESUF ENDRIS
