Charlette N’Guessan, an advocate for responsible AI in Africa, is set to share her insights as a speaker at VivaTech 2024. With a background in AI product engineering, she has co-founded startups focusing on identity verification and facial recognition technology. Her presence at VivaTech presents an opportunity to highlight the importance of ethical AI development in addressing real-world challenges across the continent.
Charlette N’Guessan, a trailblazer in the field of artificial intelligence, is poised to take the stage at VivaTech 2024 to share her expertise and experiences. With a passion for leveraging technology for social good, Charlette has dedicated her career to developing responsible AI solutions that address pressing challenges in Africa.
As the Data Solutions and Ecosystem Lead at AMINI, a deep-tech startup harnessing space technology and AI to tackle environmental data scarcity, Charlette is at the forefront of innovation. AMINI’s mission to foster economic inclusion for farmers and bolster supply chain resilience aligns perfectly with Charlette’s vision of using AI for positive social impact.
Before her current role, Charlette co-founded a startup focused on identity verification using AI-powered facial recognition technology. Recognizing the biases inherent in existing facial recognition algorithms, particularly against individuals with darker skin tones, Charlette and her team developed their own software, Bace API. By training their algorithm on a diverse dataset of sub-Saharan African faces, they aimed to create a more accurate and inclusive solution.
Their efforts did not go unnoticed. In September, Charlette N’Guessan received the prestigious Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation from the Royal Academy of Engineering, becoming the first woman to be honored with this award. The recognition not only bolstered the startup’s reputation but also provided essential funding to further develop their technology.
Born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Charlette’s journey to success was shaped by her supportive family and a passion for technology. After studying electronics and computer networks, she seized the opportunity to join the Meltwater Entrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST) in Accra, Ghana, where she honed her skills in coding and entrepreneurship.
It was at MEST that Charlette found her niche in facial recognition technology, despite the skepticism surrounding its application in Africa. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the demand for remote services has skyrocketed, presenting new opportunities for AI-driven solutions across various sectors.
As Charlette prepares to speak at VivaTech 2024, she sees the event as a platform to advocate for responsible AI development and showcase the potential for technology to drive positive change in Africa. By sharing her experiences and insights, she hopes to inspire others to embrace innovation while prioritizing ethical considerations.
In a continent where technological advancements have the power to transform lives, Charlette N’Guessan envisions a future where AI is harnessed responsibly to address pressing social and economic challenges. As she takes the stage at VivaTech, she embodies the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that is shaping the Africa of tomorrow.
For Charlette, the opportunities at VivaTech extend beyond networking and collaboration; they represent a chance to amplify her message and drive meaningful change on a global scale. By engaging with industry leaders and policymakers, she hopes to shape the narrative around AI in Africa and pave the way for a more inclusive and equitable future.
In conclusion, Charlette N’Guessan’s presence at VivaTech 2024 underscores the importance of responsible AI development in driving sustainable development in Africa. As a pioneer in the field, she is not only breaking barriers but also inspiring the next generation of innovators to use technology for the greater good.