NITDA DG: AI Is collaborative partner, not threat to jobs - ITREALMS

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The Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Kashifu Inuwa, has urged business leaders to view artificial intelligence (AI) as a partner in driving innovation and economic growth, rather than a threat to human jobs, reports ITREALMS.

Speaking at the BusinessDay CEO Forum Nigeria in Lagos, Inuwa encouraged CEOs to integrate AI into their operations as a thought partner and strategic ally, rather than a replacement for human input.

Fallacies of Generative Artificial Intelligence by Remmy Nweke - ITREALMS

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The rise in misinformation could be attributed to courtesy of generative Artificial Intelligence and calls for concern, especially for those generating content in a hurry like journalists. REMMY NWEKE attempts to fact-check some information generated thereof and concluded that the fallacies of GenAI is worrisome.

Preamble:

Recently, I was on transit to the South Eastern part of Nigeria after about 7 hours 49 minutes on road, covering some 474 kilometers from Lagos, when the good news of a colleague’s political appointment was proclaimed and some associates tried to run over themselves in the spirit of ‘breaking news.’ Fortunately within a closed association we needed to issue a formal congratulatory message, of which I was able to generate despite my poor location network-wise; having searched the World Wide Web (www) for the promoted colleague’s profile to no avail.

Artificial intelligence: Essential for Africa leapfrogging says Shehu Tijjani - ITREALMS

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The managing director, Amal Technologies Limited, Mr. Shehu Tijjani, believes that technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) precisely has become essential for Africa to secure its place in the global digital economy, reports ITREALMS.

He made this known at a panel discussion during the 12th Realnews Anniversary Lecture on Tuesday in Lagos, noting that as technology accelerates, Africa faces an extra-ordinary opportunity to leapfrog into the global digital economy space.

Telecoms Clinic: The Nigeria’s AI fund with Google - ITREALMS

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As the first cohort of Google inspired Artificial Intelligence fund in search of startups in Nigeria closes application window, REMMY NWEKE reports that though N100m is commendable, its meager before industry watchers.

Preamble:
A few weeks ago, the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy with Google West Africa partnership sealed through the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR) announced a fund worth a ₦100 million, following the call for application which closed on September 25, 2024.

The fund at the sum of ₦100 million in the name of supporting the local startups in developing innovative AI-driven solutions is commendable, but not without mixed feelings.

Africa: Artificial Intelligence and future of work – ITREALMS

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The technology can assist in decision-making, risk assessment, and data analysis, empowering entrepreneurs in their ventures

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Africa has a unique opportunity to influence what the future of work looks like in these early days as large language learning models (LLMs) are evolving, and the environment for applications is still new. 

This is according to the AI and the Future of Work in Africa whitepaper produced by Microsoft (www.Microsoft.com) and a collective of industry experts from across the continent.

Guterres launches AI Advisory body - ITREALMS

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The United Nations (UN) Secretary-General has launched an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Advisory body on risks, opportunities, and international governance of artificial intelligence, reports ITREALMS.

Disclosing this, Mr. Guterres said the creation of a new AI Advisory body is to support the international community’s efforts to govern artificial intelligence.

NCS’ Artificial Intelligence summit to debut in Nasarawa - ITREALMS

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The Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) has advanced plans to host its first-ever Artificial Intelligence Summit in Lafia, Nasarawa State, reports ITREALMS.

NCS AI-Summit2022 briefing:
L-R Mr. Iyiola Ayoola, NCS President, Prof Adesina Sodiya and his deputy Dr Mohammad Sirajo Aliyu

Disclosing this to ITREALMS on Tuesday at the society secretariat, NCS President, Prof. Adesina Sodiya said they are taking the debut to Nasarawa due to the open-arm of the state government in welcoming their idea.

Artificial intelligence technologies boost capabilities of cyber threat actors

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In response to cyber defenders’ increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, malicious actors started discussing their potential application for criminal use, report ITRealms

Research from Control Risks, the specialist global risk consultancy, shows that the development of techniques to use these technologies and tools to enhance their capabilities is now increasingly on the agenda of cyber threat actors, report ITRealms.

Associate Director and head of Control Risks’ cyber threat intelligence team, Nicolas Reys, explained that more organisations are beginning to employ machine learning and artificial intelligence as part of their defences against cyber threats.

“Cyber threat actors are recognising the need to advance their skills to keep up with this development. One application could be to use deep learning algorithms to improve the effectiveness of their attacks. This shows that AI and its subsets will play a larger role in facilitating cyber attacks in the near future,” he said.

Although there are currently no known attacks using AI, but these technologies, he said, could assist threat actors in a number of ways.

This includes spear phishing campaigns, dubbed hivenets, extensive, customized attacks, and advanced obfuscation techniques.

He explained that the spearphishing campaigns: In the targeting of a criminal campaign, threat actors could use algorithms to generate spearphishing campaigns in victims’ native languages, expanding the reach of mass campaigns. Similarly, larger amounts of data could be automatically gathered and analysed to improve social engineering techniques, and with it the effectiveness of spearphishing campaigns.

Dubbed ‘hivenets’: In the post-infection phase, clusters of compromised devices that have the ability to self-learn, so-called dubbed ‘hivenets’, could be used to automatically identify and target additional vulnerable systems.

Extensive, customised attacks: Based on its assessment of the target environment, AI technology could tailor the actual malware or attack in order to be unique to each system it encounters along the way. This would enable threat actors to conduct vast numbers of attacks that are uniquely tailored to each victim. Only bespoke mitigation or responses would be effective for each infection, rendering traditional signature or behaviour-based defence systems obsolete.

Advanced obfuscation techniques: Threat actors could evade detection by developing and implementing advanced obfuscation techniques, using data from past campaigns and the analysis of security tools. Attackers may even be able to launch targeted misdirection or ‘noise generation’ attacks to disrupt intelligence gathering and mitigation efforts by automated defence systems.

“The use of AI is not likely to become widespread soon, given the financial investment that is currently needed. However, as more research is produced and AI technologies become more mature and more accessible to threat actors, this threat will evolve. Organisations should be aware of the potential for these types of attacks to emerge in the course of 2018. Staying informed and being able to identify relevant emerging attacks, technologies and vulnerabilities is therefore just as important as being prepared in the event of an attack,” Reys said.

Nonye Dom/GEE

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Artificial hearts, artificial intelligence top agenda @Berlin Science Week’17

ITRealms:

The 2017 Berlin Science Week has top on its forthcoming agenda artificial hearts and artificial intelligence alongside noble prizes, reports ITRealms.

Berlin Science Week, ITRealms gathered, brings outstanding scientists and institutions from all over the world to Berlin from 1 to 10 November, with international and national science and research institutions, foundations and other stakeholders to stage over 50 sideevents.

ITRealms reports that following its launch last year, the Berlin Science Week has now almost doubled in size, with many more participating partners including institutions in Berlin and Brandenburg such as Humboldt-Universität, Freie Universität, Einstein Center Digital Future and IASS Potsdam but also international partners like ETH Zurich and the Austrian Institute of Technology.

The Mayor of Berlin Michael Müller was quoted as affirming that "Science and innovation are our city's most important resources for the future, and we are justifiably proud of the unique diversity of our institutions, their enormous capability to innovate and their international character.

“Science Week gives visibility to the extraordinary potential and dynamic of our "Brain City" Berlin and it establishes a dialogue with partners and visitors from all over Germany and the world. It's a type of Berlinale for the science community and I very much look forward to it once again this year,“ he said.

The Berlin Science Week also invites the interested public to join the dialogue: numerous exhibitions, talks and symposia will highlight the ways in which science and research intersect with society. “This bundling of events is intended to create synergies between the participating institutions and also to promote an exchange of ideas with a broader audience. We invite everyone who is passionate about science, research and innovation to take part,” says Professor Jürgen Mlynek, Coordinator of the Berlin Science Week, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Falling Walls Foundation and former President of the Helmholtz Association and of Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin.

To kick off this year’s Berlin Science Week, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin will host the first of two publicNext Frontier Debates. On 1 November, international scientists and audience members will discuss the integration of refugees. On 9 November the discussion will focus on the Paris Agreement’s climate goal of keeping global average temperatures from increasing more than 2°C.

Throughout the Berlin Science Week a special show will be open at the Boulevard Berlin shopping centre. “Ibn Al-Haytham: The Man Who Discovered How We See” presents the work of this 11th-century Arab researcher, whose contributions radically changed our understanding of light, optics and vision. The show, which is aimed primarily at families and school groups, is an initiative of the London-based NGO 1001 Inventions and will appear in Germany for the first time. It is free of charge.

On 7 November, the Mayor of Berlin will present the Berlin Science Award, as well as an additional prize for best junior scientist, at the Rotes Rathaus, Berlin’s City Hall.

On 10 November, to close the Berlin Science Week, a symposium in honour of the physicist Alain Aspect will bring together international experts – including three Nobel Laureates – and junior scientists and researchers at the French Embassy to jointly explore the findings and impact of the “second quantum revolution”.

Dr Stefan Franzke, Managing Director of Berlin Partner, says: “Berlin is diversity. That applies in particular to the city’s science landscape. More than 200,000 people from across Germany, Europe and the entire world research, teach and study at some 50 public and private universities. Their ideas will shape the world of tomorrow, and already today they are helping to make collaboration between science and industry so successful.” 

Remmy Nweke/ED, Ops

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Six influencers of Artificial Intelligence

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The world has gone digital. In fact, we are approaching the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also described as Industry 4.0: an age in which a range of new technologies is expectedly fusing the physical, digital and biological worlds in addition to impacting all disciplines, economies and industries.

This is an age marked by emerging technology breakthroughs in a number of fields, including artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented reality, nanotechnology, quantum computing, biotechnology, The Internet of Things, 3D printing and driver-less vehicles, among others.

One of these emerging technologies, Artificial intelligence or AI, as it is commonly referred to, has the potential to cause significant disruptions to many established industries, presenting amazing new ways for business leaders and individuals to simplify complex tasks.

According to the Research and Development Unit of Yudala, Nigeria’s fastest growing e-commerce outfit, here are six ways Artificial Intelligence will shake up things in the corporate world.

1.Double-edged impact on jobs and employment opportunities: Artificial intelligence promotes the growing reliance on machines which possess the ability to perform a wide range of physical and cognitive tasks, admittedly with more efficiency and accuracy. This poses a great deal of concern for the future as these machines may put many jobs at risk and ultimately reduce human employment. While these concerns are legitimate, research posits that the rise of artificial intelligence and automation may, nevertheless, have a double-edged impact on employment: negative and positive. In the negative sense, AI may displace humans by directly replacing them in tasks previously performed by these workers. On the positive side, the deployment of machine learning and artificial intelligence may end up increasing the demand for labour in other industries or create new jobs or openings as a result of automation.

2.Data analysis and presentation: With the emergence of machine learning which is a direct off-shoot of artificial intelligence, the task of crunching numbers, analyzing data and presenting this as useable information just got easier. A single supercomputer using artificial intelligence running on continuous machine learning will definitely out-perform the work of ten or more humans working with spreadsheets to analyze and interpret the same amount of data. Most machine learning apps have the capability of, not only analyzing huge amounts of data in record times, but also reducing errors to the barest minimum -  a factor that makes them logically preferable to high-cost and error-prone human accounting or consultancy teams.

3.Budgeting: Closely related to the foregoing is the refinements and research-backed approach to the process of budgeting which AI lends. For most businesses, budgeting is often carried out haphazardly on a yearly basis, with funds allocated in similar patterns to various activities and business units. This inadvertently results in a situation where certain business units get more working capital while other units which yield more returns struggle with the meagre figures allocated to them. By deploying artificial intelligence, business leaders can generate valid information on the performances of various business units and gauge more accurately the returns on the investments made on specific activities. This will potentially cause a major overhaul of existing budgeting systems used by corporate organizations and bring more value and objectivity to the entire process.

4.More personalized marketing: The exciting benefits of artificial intelligence will also be keenly felt in the field of marketing, as advances in the field will usher in landmark advances in the marketing value chain, leading to more personalized experiences for consumers. Through AI tools, marketing will assume an automated dimension, enabling companies to deliver a richer, more personalized experience for all classes of consumers and resulting in stronger connections between brands and consumers. Ultimately, these new approaches will build brand affinity/loyalty and positively impact bottom lines. Presently, a number of organizations are deploying artificial intelligence principles to simplify the processes involved in various branches of marketing including email marketing, SEO, mobile, social media, among others. Global e-commerce giant, Amazon, is playing a leading role in this aspect –  a step that is on the verge of being replicated by Yudala – by relying on a series of algorithms to determine what customers are likely to buy or require next, with these suggestions and creatives sent to the target customers via customized emails in a process that is entirely automated.

5.Recruitment/Human Resources: AI will radically transform the recruitment and human capital management function by infusing more objectivity and transparency into the entire process. This will equip business leaders or owners with the requisite insight to take more informed decision on hiring, compensation, promotion and gender pay disparity/biases in the work-place. By leveraging the benefits of advanced statistical tools and machine learning, AI can help organizations recognize and reward performance more objectively among the entire work-force through the detection and elimination of partiality, imbalances and subjective appraisals.

6.Banking and finance: The entire financial services sector will also be disrupted by the emergence of artificial intelligence solutions and applications. A recent research survey carried out by The Economist revealed that 49% of banking executives believe the traditional transactional banking model will be dead by 2020. Through AI, banks, insurance companies, asset/wealth management firms and capital markets will have a plethora of cutting-edge tools that will streamline and bring unimaginable simplicity and ease to their core financial processes and customer service offerings. The potential is limitless. Robo-advisors are being mooted in the sphere of asset management; banks will expectedly rely on chatbots to boost customer experience while other AI tools will simply thorny reconciliations, reporting of earnings, financial analysis and asset allocation, among others. AI will also help insurance firms process claims, streamline their processes and uncover fraud. Understandably, a number of financial institutions are awake to this reality, head-hunting and mopping up fintech talents, in a sort of arms race to ensure they are not left behind in the sweeping wave of tech-mediated changes that is afoot in the sector.

What is Artificial Intelligence?

Artificial intelligence (AI, also known as machine intelligence, MI) is intelligence exhibited by machines, rather than humans or other animals (natural intelligence, NI). In computer science, the field of AI research defines itself as the study of "intelligent agents": any device that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chance of success at some goal. Colloquially, the term "artificial intelligence" is applied when a machine mimics "cognitive" functions that humans associate with other human minds, such as "learning" and "problem solving". 

AI research is divided into subfields that focus on specific problems, approaches, the use of a particular tool, or towards satisfying particular applications. Artificial intelligence is not one technology but rather a group of related technologies – including natural language processing (improving interactions between computers and human or “natural” languages); machine learning (computer programs that can “learn” when exposed to new data) and expert systems (software programmed to provide advice) – that help machines sense, comprehend and act in ways similar to the human brain.  

These technologies are behind innovations such as virtual agents (computer-generated, animated characters serving as online customer service representatives); identity analytics (solutions combining big data and advanced analytics to help manage user access and certification) and recommendation systems (algorithms helping match users and providers of goods and services) which have already transformed the ways in which companies look at the overall customer experience.

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ITU set for Artificial Intelligence summit

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The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has said that all is set for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) summit driven by the rapid progress in research, intelligent machines are gaining the ability to learn, improve and make calculated decisions in ways that will enable them to perform tasks previously thought to rely solely on human experience, creativity, and ingenuit​y, reports ITRealms.

As a result, ITRealms gathered that in the near future will see large parts of lives influenced by AI,

AI innovation, ITRealms also gathered will also be central to the achievement of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and will help solving humanity's grand challenges by capitalizing on the unprecedented quantities of data now being generated on sentiment behavior, human health, commerce, communications, migration and more.

Official confirmed to ITRealms that with large parts of lives being influenced by AI, it is critical that government, industry, academia and civil society work together to evaluate the opportunities presented by AI, ensuring that AI benefits all of humanity.

Responding to this critical issue, ITU and the XPRIZE Foundation are organizing the first AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva, 7-9 June, 2017 in partnership with a number of UN sister agencies.

The Summit aims to accelerate and advance the development and democratization of AI solutions that can address specific global challenges related to poverty, hunger, health, education, the environment, and others.

The Summit provides a neutral platform for government officials, UN agencies, NGO's, industry leaders, and AI experts to discuss the ethical, technical, societal and policy issues related to AI, offer reccommendations and guidance,​ and promote international dialogue and cooperation in support of AI innovation.

A number of distinguished speakers and organizations have committed to participating in the Summit.

Chuks Egbune/GEE

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