African students win global prize for AI education system without internet

In many regions globally, educational access is hindered by inadequate internet connectivity and the lack of smartphones. To address this issue, students Happy Niyorurema and Mame Niang from Texas Christian University have developed a system that delivers educational content through ordinary phone calls, eliminating the need for a smartphone. This innovation was acknowledged in Dubai, where they were awarded the Global Best M-Gov Award.

According to Happy Niyorurema, "When we talk about AI, we often assume people are online and able to use it. However, 2.9 billion people, primarily in the Global South, still lack internet access, accounting for just over one-third of the global population. We built our own AI (large language model), but instead of putting it on the web, we deployed it on telephony."

The system functions via standard voice calls, providing learners with access to educational resources, whether they are located in major cities or remote rural areas.

Mame Niang stated, "It's extremely easy to use—you don't need a smartphone. This solution is innovative because it assumes users may not have access to smartphones and the internet. With this system, even the most basic phone can be used. We have already launched our pilot program in Rwanda, with plans to expand across Africa, starting with Senegal, Zambia, and other countries on the continent."

The World Government Summit in Dubai gathered government representatives from around the world to discuss innovation, technology, and methods to enhance public services. This year's summit concluded on Thu, Feb 16, 2023.

Based on reporting by Africanews.