The Scientific Director of the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Lab (RAIL), Prof. Jerry John Kponyo is asking governments for investment in AI in key sectors of the economy.

Speaking at the maiden AfricaAI conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Prof. Kponyo noted it is crucial for economic transformation.

RAIL is under the Artificial Intelligence for Development in Africa (AI4D) Multidisciplinary Labs project initiated by International Development Research Centre (IDRC).

The lab seeks to develop talent in Data Science and Machine Learning to help bridge the widening skills gap needed to champion the Digital Economic Transformation agenda of Ghana and the Subregion.

Prof. Kponyo, however, thinks funds internally generated from investments will make the gains sustainable.

"What external donors are helping us to do is to show us that there are examples of how AI can transform key sectors of the economy.

"Governments must prioritise the injection of the technology in key sectors of the economy and make budget allocations," he said.

Project Engineer and Satellite Labs Lead, RAIL-Senegal, Prof. Mouhamadou Lamine BA, encouraged utilisation of local AI solutions.

"We must promote innovations from local AI solutions," he said.

International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and Niyel are organizing the inaugural AfricAI Conference to provide a forum for exchange, learning and networking between key AI stakeholders.