AI Report on Southern Africa http://misa.org Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability AI applications respond to environmental and climate challenges such as environmental preservation, conservation management and natural disaster responsiveness. Local knowledge is critical for enhancing the sustainable impact of these tools. Use Case: WildTrack operating in Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe deploys visual AI technology to conserve various wildlife species in the region; the application was refined using indigenous knowledge from local rangers. Education AI can bridge the educational divides in Southern Africa by providing learners in rural areas access to educational tools. Strict safeguards are needed to protect children’s personal data and rights. Use Case: Applications such as Ambani in South Africa use augmented reality (interactive AI) to develop lessons tailored to the learners’ needs and primary language. As poor access to internet services remains a challenge for many learners in Southern Africa, applications such as Foondamate overcome this challenge by delivering curated internet services to students or learners with low data cost. In Namibia the spotlight is on YYeni9, an artificial intelligence platform and app that aims to redefine the education landscape in Namibia and beyond. The AI startup was founded by two young individuals, Vitalis Haupindi, the current chief technology officer and chief executive and former cybersecurity student at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST), and Lotto Nanghonda, the chief of sales and former chartered accountant student at the University of Namibia (Unam). The AI platform chatbot aims to bridge the educational gap Namibia is currently experiencing. YYeni provides students and pupils with personalised instructions and support tailored to their needs and learning styles. The platform utilises advanced machine learning algorithms to analyse individual learning patterns and provide targeted recommendations for improvement. Additionally, YYeni offers a wide range of educational resources, including interactive quizzes and virtual tutoring sessions, to enhance the overall learning experience for students and pupils. YYeni aims to create a personalised and effective learning environment for all. YYeni is already being used by some private schools in Namibia and is set to run a pilot project with government schools in the next few months. The YYeni team represented Namibia and emerged winners in the Huawei Seeds for the Future Tech4Good 2023 global competition10. Labour AI applications identified show both potential employment loss and creation. Digital infrastructure constraints may limit new entrants’ market share and the technological 9 https://yyenichat.com/ 10 https://fci.nust.na/team-namibia-wins-huaweis-tech4good-global-competition-2023 27