During the opening ceremony of the Startup Ethiopia Exhibition, launched on 08 April 2024 at the Science Museum, an Amharic speaking Robot, named Desta, attended the event. During the event, a lot of youths and students attended the ceremony and Desta the Robot made a speech to the youth generation about robot and AI technology.
Since then, Desta the Robot grabs the attention of the local media and the youth generation and children as well. The Amharic speaking robot, Desta the Robot, initiate the youth and school children to give attention for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies of these era.
Following its display at the Science Museum during the Startup exhibition, Robot Desta performed a music show with the Ethiopian Jazz King, Mulatu Astatke, at Skylight Hotel. All these events made Desta the Robot more popular during the past weeks in Ethiopia. Following these events, Seifu Show producer Seifu Fantahun invited Desta the Robot for interview at his show and asked the robot in Amharic “it is my first time to make an interview with a robot…what is your feeling as you are the first robot presented in my show?”
Desta the Robot responded, “It is a popular show where figures come for interview, it is good opportunity to me to promote myself. I am excited to be here.” Then she warned him, “Please Seifu, don’t ask me my age and the questions like ‘are you married?’”. He asked the robot about her creator and the robot answered that it is a product of human beings. “I am a robot; in short I am manmade product”.
“iCog Labs and Ride bring me to Ethiopia. After I came here, Ethiopia Artificial Intelligence Institute helped me to speak Amharic language and while Ethio Telecom’s 5G networks make me active,” Desta the Robot stated during the interview. “Professionals in the technology industry especially AI professionals who are striving to create a better world created and helped me to perform like this. I speak Amharic with the help of computerized machines and I am the result of AI.”
AI is a programed machine, computer program or robot performing different tasks based on installed programs. These days, the development of AI is transforming the technology industry. Using the installed programs and data, AI can learn whatever language within short period and is performing various tasks.
Bethelhem Dessie, Chief Advisor at iCog Labs Enterprise, said, ‘Desta the Robot’ comes to Ethiopia to promote technological developments and to initiate youths innovators engaged in the technology sector especially in the AI industry. As to her, iCog Labs is a research and development company based in Ethiopia collaborating with international AI research groups and serving customers around the world. It engaged in a variety of projects, specifically in artificial intelligence, mechanical learning based data analysis, computational linguistics, computer vision, mobile robots and cognitive robotics, cognitive architectures and artificial general intelligence.
According to Bethelhem, Desta the Robot came to Ethiopia in collaboration with Ethiopian Artificial Intelligence Institute (EAII), iCog Labs and Ride Transport service. iCog Labs has participated in developing the software part of ‘Desta the Robot’ and the EAII helped the robot to speak Amharic using its own applications installed language data.
During the display of Robot Desta at the Science Museum at the Startup Ethiopia Exhibition, children, youths and various sections of the society visited the robot. During the event, Finance State Minister Eyob Tekalign (PhD) stated that Ethiopia is investing its maximum efforts in developing and expanding emerging technologies like AI. Considering the development of the global technological advancements, the Ethiopian government is promoting technological advancements including AI and other emerging technologies.
The State Minister further noted that Robot Desta was made to speak Amharic language which shows Ethiopia’s unwavering commitment to come to closer to the technological age of AI and other emerging technologies. As to him, Ethiopia is striving to realize Digital Ethiopia Strategy 2025 and working to realize prosperity. To realize the ambitious plans, Ethiopia makes technology among the top pillars of the national strategy. Considering the role of AI in the technology sector, by establishing AI institute, the country gives due attention for the development of AI and other emerging technologies.
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh said that Ethiopia gives high priority for technology transfer and for the development of Artificial Intelligence. As to the Deputy Prime Minister, Ethiopia has been extensively working on the development of AI and technology transfer during the past five years extensively.
Temesgen further noted that the extensive investment of Ethiopia in developing AI and other technological developments is bringing promising results. Ethiopia understands the importance of AI early in the current technology age and strives to develop it locally. As to him, AI is important to address the challenges of African countries including Ethiopia. Considering its importance, Ethiopia is working to develop the emerging technology.
According to DPM Temesgen, developing AI technologies like Robot Desta will be intensified in realizing digital transformation of Ethiopia. Government is committed to support AI products and startups in the technology sector and to achieve digital transformation. Efforts are continued to create conducive ecosystem for the technology sector and to achieve digital transformation by supporting and promoting innovators and startups.
To accelerate the efforts for the growth of the AI sector and other digital alternatives, in addition to infrastructural developments, creating institutions and adopting appropriate policies and strategies, Ethiopia establishes Digital Transformation Council (DTC). Combing the efforts and exploiting the opportunities, Ethiopia’s digital transformation will be intensified and accelerating the development of AI is crucial in this regard.
Worku Gachena, Director General of Ethiopia’s Artificial Intelligence Institute, noted for his part that AI is significant in supporting the digital transformation process in Ethiopia. He added that efforts are underway to use AI in the development of various sectors such as education, industry, health agriculture and other sectors. As to the Director General, the institute is striving for the development of AI and other emerging technologies.
In addition to its regular activities in developing AI infrastructure, professionals in the sector are creating conducive ecosystem for the emerging technology. EAII is investing in cultivating talented youths by organizing summer camps. Through its summer camp program, the institute in collaboration with other institutions is investing in cultivating the talent of youths in the sector so as to create future AI professionals. In supporting the local efforts in the AI sector, the initiatives like bringing Desta the Robot to promote and sensitize local efforts are crucial especially for the young generation.
BY DARGIE KAHSAY
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD FRIDAY 3 MAY 2024
