Sunbird AI, a non-profit organization that develops artificial intelligence systems for social impact in Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Centenary Technology Services geared towards developing the Artificial Intelligence based innovation ecosystem to facilitate the usage of technology and development of the software applications in Uganda.
The strategic partnership is aligned towards addressing challenges to equality and inclusion, through the adoption of Artificial Intelligence technology.
Sunbird AI aims at providing high quality, practical, inclusive and afro-centric Artificial Intelligence systems, with a focus on developing open-source applications centered on improving citizen well-being by providing and using better data technology to inform and guide policy decisions.
The idea of Sunbird was born out of the Makerere University Artificial Intelligence lab, and was created to provide high quality practical AI applications with a focus on utility and policy.
Sunbird AI has built a text to text machine translation system for translating to and from English to the 5 top local languages in Uganda, including; Luganda, Ateso, Lugbara, Runyankore and Acholi.
Additionally, Sunbird AI has developed Ugandan made noise monitoring sensors to measure, monitor and record levels of noise and noise pollution across Uganda. This is part of a larger initiative by Sunbird AI to do environmental sensing.
Speaking at the signing of the MoU, Dr. Grace Ssekakubo, Chief Executive Officer at Cente-Tech said, “the MoU being signed seeks to create a framework for a successful partnership between Cente-Tech & Sunbird AI to create sustainable, scalable projects and initiatives which will leverage the deep expertise of Sunbird AI to support Cente-Tech’s strategic ambitions to utilize modern ICT innovations for socio-economic development among the rural poor.”
She added that the MoU will help alleviate exclusion through the various Artificial Intelligence applications that Sunbird AI has developed and will develop through this collaboration.
The Sunbird AI Executive Director, Dr. Ernest Mwebaze said the partnership with Centenary Technology Services aims to leverage the considerable reach of Cente-Tech to hospitals and schools by building Artificial Intelligence for social good solutions that will positively influence the lives of Ugandan people.
The promise of AI-based technologies is enormous, and benefits range from efficiency gains to unprecedented improvements in quality of life, especially in driving inclusion.