Intelligent CIO Africa Issue 21 | Page 15

NEWS CA Technologies research explores how AI improves human decision making C A Southern Africa has announced CA Technologies’ participation in scientific research to discover how Internet of Things (IoT) applications can use a type of Artificial Intelligence (AI) known as ‘deep learning’ to imitate human decisions. The research will also explore how to prevent AI-based decisions are not producing biased results. The three-year research project is named Adaptive and Secure Deep Learning on Heterogeneous Architectures (ALOHA). “The future of all technologies will include AI and deep learning in some way,” said Otto Berkes, Chief Technology Officer, CA Technologies. “The expansion of complex, multi-layered IoT systems bring both security and software development challenges that AI and autonomous computing are uniquely positioned to address.” Until now, deep learning AI algorithmic processing has largely been limited to expensive, high performance servers. ALOHA will study the use of these deep learning algorithms on small, low-power consumption devices such as video cameras, sensors and mobile devices. “ALOHA aims to better understand how applications running on IoT devices with growing computational power can learn from experience and react autonomously to what happens in a surrounding environment,” said Victor Muntés, Vice President of Strategic Research, CA Technologies. “We will bring our security expertise to avoid data poisoning risks that could lead to bias in AI-based decisions, while our agile expertise will help to efficiently embed the use of deep learning in the software development process.” ///////////////// Microsoft partners with Africa-IDG to create cutting- edge Blockchain applications edge Blockchain applications that are set to revolutionise the building environment. Various meetings with key government and private sector stakeholders have already been conducted and the outcomes have been positive. “The Blockchain movement is one that we must join in its early phase if we are to be relevant as a country not only internally but both regionally and internationally,” said Brighton Ngarava, Africa-IDG’s Head of Communications. From left: Brighton Ngarava. Africa-IDG CEO Tatenda Chifamba and Benlawr Ruredzo, Head of Microsoft Zimbabwe M icrosoft USA has partnered with Zimbabwean company Africa Infrastructure Development Group (Africa- IDG) in a strategic move to create cutting www.intelligentcio.com “The response we have received from the key stakeholders is a sign that we are ready to implement this technology in the build environment.” Microsoft USA sent in Sweden based Global Black Belt Blockchain engineer Dr Abdul Haseeb to work with Africa-IDG’s Development Team. “Together we have come up with compelling and relevant solutions to real time problems in the Zimbabwe ICT sector”, said Dakarai Mshoperi, Chief Technology Officer of Africa- IDG Dakarai Mshoperi. Meanwhile, Tatenda Chifamba, the Founder and CEO of Africa-IDG’s, added: “The Blockchain is an undeniably ingenious invention. Zimbabwean stakeholders have to join the wave or risk getting crushed by it.” The Head of Microsoft Zimbabwe, Benlawr Ruredzo, and the Africa-IDG Team, will continue to work together in bring success relevant discussions to key stakeholders by creating platforms for dialogue. INTELLIGENTCIO 15