Shikoh Gitau

thumb|Shikoh Gitau Dr. Cikū Gitaū (born c. 1981) is a Kenyan computer scientist. She finished her undergraduate studies in Computer Science at the Africa Nazarene University and attained her PhD at University of Cape Town. She is known for inventing M-Ganga and Ummeli, mobile applications for promoting health and medicine and matching unemployed workers with employment opportunities Quotes ...as AI evolves, the responsibility to regulate and innovate must be handled with extreme care. We don’t know where this technology is taking us Her opinion when she hears people talk about AI as if it’s a nice-to-have In Kenya, we have the highest per capita use of digital financial services in the world, How utilizing AI for practical applications that improve the lives of Africans It’s about how am I applying this technology to my everyday life based on the infrastructure that I currently have. How AI can manifest itself in more essential, everyday applications For every 3,500 people, there’s one doctor... With AI, there is the potential to provide better healthcare services, such as first-line diagnoses through mobile platforms. If I can take a photo of my disease (…) and send it to a bot that uses AI to provide me with a potential diagnosis, even at 80% accuracy, it’s better than no diagnosis at all. How AI can play a significant role in addressing Africa’s healthcare challenges. What we need to do is put measures in place to protect human dignity and human lives, but on the other hand, allow for innovation to go and be built. Talking about how regulation should not stifle innovation but should be implemented gradually as the technology unfolds When AI becomes practical, when it’s not just a hype word, that’s when we will truly see the impact of this technology on our continent. Gitau’s vision for AI It’s Africa’s moment to take that leap, seeing AI as a tool to elevate human flourishing in Africa, providing opportunities for development that have long been out of reach. Her optimism about Africa’s potential in AI Africa showed the world how to use the mobile phone; (…) and we are going to show the world how AI can actually improve people’s lives. Don’t be left behind in this journey. Her message towards the end of an interview with Rumaisa Khusru on AI Regulation Sovereignty means that I need to be in charge of my destiny and able to control my future. This involves understanding the context in which you’re operating and not allowing others to define that context for you. Shikoh Gitau on amplifying humanity, Africa’s AI leadership, technology sovereignty, and the power of community The fact that you are not there does not mean the work is not important. The work needs to continue and outlive you. Her biggest lesson after Bob Collymore died It is a very hard truth for Africans to think about is who is going to take over after I have left. You always have to think about that. I don’t want my work to leave with me. I want it to stay and continue impacting Leadership succession plan Technology was never seen as a way to employ people. The more the President talks about it, the more it changes the mindset of people. Technology External links Category:Living people Category:Computer scientists from Kenya Category:Women scientists from Kenya Category:Women born in the 1980s