Giving Compass' Take:

• The Rockefeller Foundation discusses their annual Deep Learning Indaba that will take place in Africa, and bring together researchers to discuss advances in artificial intelligence to help solve global problems. 

• How are companies responsibly using AI for social impact? 

• Here's how artificial intelligence could benefit the future of global education. 

This week more than 700 machine learning researchers from over 30 African countries will come together at Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya for the third annual Deep Learning Indaba.

On paper it looks a lot like other artificial intelligence (AI) convenings around the world. There are keynotes from luminaries, talks from up-and-coming researchers, and trainings on new methods. But as we’ve worked with the Indaba organizers to sponsor the event over the last few months, we’ve learned that the Indaba represents so much more:

  • First, the Indaba is a hub and catalyst for Africa’s growing AI community. At The Rockefeller Foundation, we know that supporting communities of dedicated engineers can change the world. In 1956, we funded the Dartmouth conference that coined the phrase “Artificial Intelligence” and launched a new way of thinking about computation.
  • Second, the Indaba is a vision of a future where AI engineers have access to opportunity regardless of their nationality, race, or economic status. Professional advancement in AI flows through a small number of exclusive conferences. Presenting at NeurIPS, ICML, or ICLR can change a researcher’s career, opening up opportunities in industry and academia. Work is underway to improve access to these conferences.

Read the full article about Africa's inclusive AI community by Evan Tachovsky and Sarah Sakha at The Rockefeller Foundation.