Dr. Mary Clare Akinyi Kidenda, Organizer of the Conference
The 4th International Technical University of Kenya / Exploring Visual Cultures Conference, afforded a remarkable programme and experience for its delegates. The conference and exhibition highlighted the intersection of technology, culture and innovation. Of interest was how AI brings to the world of visual arts diversity and creativity. AI tools and models continue to inspire artists and push the boundaries of what is possible in the realm of artistic expression. It was a prestigious event that brought together bright minds, thought leaders and art educators from across the globe.
The conference was officially opened by the Vice Chancellor, Technical University of Kenya Prof. Ing. Benedict M. Mutua in the presence of Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Technology Development, Professor Alfred Orina, who gave much of his time to attend and support the conference. It was noticeable and very much appreciated. Dr Avitha Sooful, Chair of EVC, and Prof. Suki Mwendwa, researcher in Design and former DVC Technology, Innovation and Partnerships at TUK, gave moving contextualising remarks to set the agenda for the conference.
Sessions that stood out, though by no means the only high impact contributions to the conference, include a panel discussion on Thursday on Al and Heritage and Al and Journalism with Dr. Ernst Wagner (founder & secretary EVC) and Christine Nguku (Assistant Director, Training and Curriculum Development at the Media Council of Kenya), chaired by Prof Eric Ogur (Director, Centre for Engineering Innovation and Production, TUK). Ernst was reminding us of the importance of experiencing heritage in the here and how: how can we move beyond its preservation (which is also important), to making it alive for current generations? AI can assist in this regard, if used strategically. Christine, a seasoned journalist, responded to the question on how AI will impact the activities and existence of the newsroom by emphasising that trained, human journalists will be needed for their ethical practice and critical thinking. Al can't perform these tasks for us.
Two keynotes that struck a distinct chord among many high level international and local speakers were given by Prof Ron Eglash, currently in the School of Information at the University of Michigan, who has done Fullbright research and published on African fractal systems, and Darrel Rhea, an expert in and advocate for Human Centred Design. In his talk, Ron highlighted the ways in which Al can be appropriated by ordinary citizens for the common good, rising above AI’s instrumentalist exploitation that benefits the global North. His presentation homed in on an elephant in the room in many sessions of the conference, namely the conundrum of attending to accurate and fair ‘representation/ inclusion’ of African data without enabling Africa’s exploitation. More of his research can be seen on his Ubuntu-AI website at https://ubuntu-ai.net/. Linking strongly to this, in his presentation Darrel spoke about the role of Al in human-centric design in defiance of corporate antihuman Al agendas and urged his audience to seize opportunities to democratise AI rather than allow it to determine our collective destinies.
This conference was a highly anticipated platform for innovation, knowledge-sharing, and collaboration. The conference highlighted the intersection of technology, culture, and innovation. These fields have become increasingly interconnected in our modern world, and addressing their complexities required fresh approaches and collaboration across disciplines by an exciting lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops which was crowned by a thought-provoking and memorable exhibition.
After an eventful and stimulating conference, summaries and closing remarks were shared by our gracious hosts Dr Mary Clare Kidenda, Prof Suki Mwendwa, Prof Alfred Orina and Dr Avitha Sooful. We left the conference more prepared and better informed than when we arrived. Thank you to TUK for organising such a high-profile remarkable and enriching event.
Runette Kruger and Mary Clare Kidenda
Download the programm and the book of abstracts