Embedded

Featuring Maxwell Gomera, Executive Director of UNDP Africa Sustainable Finance Hub & UNDP South Africa Resident Representative. In this sixth and final episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee speaks with Maxwell Gomera about how artificial intelligence can reshape international development across Africa. From his early work developing bio-economic models for elep...

Featuring Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Federal Republic of Nigeria In this fifth episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee speaks with Dr. 'Bosun Tijani about Nigeria's approach to artificial intelligence and digital transformation. With his unique background as both a successful tech entrepreneur and government minister...

In this fourth episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee speaks with Kate Kallot about building the fundamental data infrastructure needed for Africa's AI revolution. As the founder and CEO of Amini AI, Kallot shares her views on AI as a pivotal technology that can either perpetuate colonial patterns of dependence or become a mechanism for sovereignty and inclusive...

In this third episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee speaks with Hon. Paula Ingabire about Rwanda's strategic approach to artificial intelligence. As the Minister of ICT and Innovation, Ingabire shares insights on how Rwanda is positioning itself as a leader in Africa's AI landscape, focusing on talent development, investment attraction, and ethical framework...

Featuring Prof. Vukosi Marivate, Professor of Computer Science & Co-founder of Lelapa AI In this second episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee speaks with Prof. Vukosi Marivate about the critical role of language in creating AI systems that serve African communities authentically. As a leading figure in machine learning and natural language processing in Africa,...

Featuring Tonee Ndungu, Founder of Kytabu. In this first episode of a special series of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee sits down with Tonee Ndungu, a pioneering EdTech entrepreneur who is transforming education across Africa through AI-powered learning tools. From his personal journey with dyslexia to founding Kytabu, Tonee shares insights on how AI is reshaping education on the continent...

In this episode of Embedded, host Zain Verjee explores the intersection of AI, immersive media, and authentic cultural storytelling with pioneering director Michaela Ternasky-Holland. As one of the first directors to work with OpenAI's Sora platform, Michaela shares her journey from Disney performer to Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, and how she uses emerging technologies to preserve cultural na...

In this episode of Embedded, host Zain Verjee speaks with Dr. Chinasa T. Okolo, a Governance Studies Fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for Technology Innovation. As a computer science expert specializing in the impact of AI on the Global South, Dr. Okolo shares her experience consulting with the African Union on their Artificial Intelligence Continental Strategy. The conversation ex...

In this episode of Embedded, host Zain Verjee explores how generative AI can empower entrepreneurs in emerging markets to scale smarter, faster, and more inclusively. Prof. Rembrand Koning shares insights from his groundbreaking work at Harvard's Tech for All Lab, where they're studying how entrepreneurs can harness AI to benefit humanity. From WhatsApp-integrated AI advisors to partnershi...

In this episode of Embedded, host Zain Verjee speaks with Asme Teka Hadgu, co-founder and CTO of Lesan AI, about the critical challenge of language accessibility in artificial intelligence. Based in Berlin, Lesan AI is pioneering machine translation for Ethiopian languages, notably outperforming tech giants in Amharic and Tigrinya translations. Asme discusses their unique approach to data collecti...

Episode Description An Embedded x TechCabal crossover. Our host, Zain spoke to two African entrepreneurs whose startups are doing incredible things with AI on the continent. Megan Yates from Zindi and Clinton Oduor from Amini share their insights into how AI is solving local problems, from supporting smallholder farmers to building data ecosystems that support innovation and learning. Building AI...

Zain Verjee sits down with Wakanyi Hoffman, Storyteller and Indigenous Knowledge Scholar, to explore a much needed crossover:  Ubuntu ethics and Artificial Intelligence. In this episode we deep dive into the continent's rich storytelling traditions and how we can embed the values and concept of Ubuntu to provide an ethical framework for building AI systems. One in which indigenous communities can...

For this episode of Embedded Zain is joined by Rashida Richardson, a law and technology policy expert and Senior Counsel at MasterCard, where they discuss some of the ways AI systems reflect racial and cultural biases we see in society. Rashida also shares some of the policy interventions, governance, and training needed to tackle challenges like "dirty data" that we see in AI development, and giv...

In our debut episode of the Embedded podcast, host Zain Verjee is joined by Aneesh Raman, LinkedIn's Chief Economic Opportunity Officer, for a discussion about the future of work in the AI era.  He discusses the trends he's been witnessing since the AI boom and breaks down some of the skills and qualities that will be most valuable for employers in an AI economy.   How can AI be leveraged to creat...