A pile of activities and functions have been performed within this week by the leading telecoms service provider, Orange Sierra Leone to celebrate the digital transformation week. The activities which where facial recognition, online connection and WhatsApp shows among others commenced from Monday 24th October to Friday 28th of the same month.
The weeklong celebration is about showcasing the relevance of digitalisation to the business sector. It is also about reminding people how AI networks has led and dominated the digital industry for years. Rounding up the activities, a Digital Transformation week workshop was held Last Thursday at Orange headquarters in Freetown attended by personalities from different walks of life under the theme: how can AI drive business growth and outcomes in Sierra Leone.
Speaking at the ceremony, the company secretary, Haffie Haffner told the audience that digital transformation should be at the heart of business, and had to be recognised and celebrated in a special way.
“From Monday, Orange Sierra Leone embarked on several events to celebrate the digital transformation week,” Haffner informed the audience.
The OSL secretary firmly believes that AI changes in the way things are done, and it is a must for business entities to adopt it for efficiency and cost effectiveness. “I believe strongly that one cannot do business without AI.
It improves customer service and efficiency in service delivery , and helps in capacity building,” Heffner explained.
She allayed fears that there will be job cuts or losses as AI gains foothold in societies especially Sierra Leone. “With AI, jobs will still remain intact,” she assured. In a period of AI networks, she went on, it was about adjusting the way work was done, and with digitally generated data, cost will be optimised and sound decisions made. Throughout, the years, she went on, OSL’s ambition is to become a digital trustworthy partner in Sierra Leone.
In her contribution, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Directorate of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), Michiala Mackay said everything done today touched on AI technologies.
She went on to explain how digitalisation could help society access information that can be used to solve societal problems. “With AI, you get accurate information on social issues, human rights abuses and service delivery,” she explained.
Making specific references, Mackay further explained how AI was used to track down pregnancies among female pupils in several secondary schools in the country. “AI has helped the Ministry of Basic and Senior School Education track down 654 pregnancies among pupils,” she informed the audience.
When COVID-19 struck in March, 2020, Mackay went on, AI was used to access vital information about the virus, and how government should respond to the threat. “With AI, government was advised accordingly on what needed to be done during lockdowns. Using AI data collection, DSTI was able to arrive at a conclusion that most people flouted the lockdown rules owing to pressing welfare needs. We therefore advised government that the country could not be shut down for more than three days,” she recounted.
The DSTI director also went further in explaining how AI immensely contributed to human capital development. “We use AI to test numeracy and literacy skills among pupils,” she said.
Outside the DSTI world, AI’s benefit to the to the banking sector is also ever present. The banking magnate, Dr Walton Gilpin said AI propelled national growth and development as it enable institutions to render service to a customer in the best way.
Dr Gilpin went a long way in explaining the ‘deep learning’ concept which enables managers and leaders to make accurate decisions through AI-driven data collection. He also further emphasises that AI enhances speed and efficiency in attending to requests and enquiries. “A customer can call and request for his balance, the bank worker can easily go into the Sim korpor to give out the information in a very short period. Working within such hours ensures efficiency and profits for the institution,” he stressed.
Such quick action, and result requires deep learning.
With AI’s efficiency and effectiveness in producing result, Dr Gilpin is highly convinced that the network is here to stay, and jobs can be maintained in an AI era. In her contribution, the OSL digital trainer, Pricillia Ikechukwu said AI’s role in seen in such areas as e-commerce, fraud detection, robotics, agriculture, aviation among others.
She further explained about how the youth are being trained in digital skills to solve societal problems. She sums it up by by reminding the audience “that AI can do at a faster pace what human beings can do, but jobs cannot be lost.”