At the heart of Kigali, on the margins of the Deep Learning Indaba, iAfrikan sat down with one of the most influential minds shaping Africa’s artificial intelligence future. Just days before being named among TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in AI, Professor Benjamin Rosman joined Indaba Insights for a wide-ranging conversation on African AI research, talent, and global competitiveness.
Professor Rosman serves as both a Trustee of the Deep Learning Indaba and the Director of the newly established MIND Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand. In this episode, he offers a rare glimpse into the research ambitions of the MIND Institute, an institution designed to push the frontiers of artificial intelligence and machine learning while anchoring world class research firmly on African soil. From foundational AI to advanced intelligent systems, Rosman outlines how the institute is cultivating depth, rigour, and long-term research capacity.
Prof Rosman in discussion with iAfrikan editor Bataung Qhotsokoane
As the Deep Learning Indaba's media partner, iAfrikan also considers the Indaba's amazing development with Professor Rosman. What started out as a daring experiment to increase Africa's capacity for AI research has developed into an internationally renowned gathering that draws top researchers, fosters up-and-coming talent, and announces Africa's entry as a significant contributor to the world's AI knowledge output.
🎙️ Recorded in Kigali, Rwanda, at University of Rwanda – Indaba 2025.
