South Africa-based entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert and biochemist, Dr Charles Awuzie is the CEO of Gemsbok Group. In this interview by KINGSLEY ALUMONA, he speaks about generative artificial intelligence (AI), Africa’s technological challenges, among others.
Your company recently launched its generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform, called GemsbokGPT. What inspired this innovation?
Firstly, my inspiration comes from my passion to make emerging cutting-edge technologies available to the average African man or woman in towns and villages. I may not say I am the first to launch a generative artificial intelligence (AI) platform in Africa but if you study my track record, you will agree that I have always been at the forefront of every major technological revolution.
I am a futurist with an eye for disruptive technologies and always studying how they can be used to solve Africa’s problems. I am one of Africa’s first certified ethical hackers and I made cybersecurity a fashionable career path, especially in Nigeria where the majority of people do not understand the difference between a professional ethical hacker and a criminal hacker.
Africa’s challenges inspire my quest for technology and I believe that with more investments in technology, Africa can rise above her challenges.
What are the features of GemsbokGPT that make it unique to Africa and Africa’s technology-related challenges?
GemsbokGPT is a collection of various AI functions integrated into one platform. This means that our users can transcribe audio to text, engage in conversational dialogue with expert AI agents, write computer codes with our AI code generator, generate unique images and create various types of written content such as articles, blogs, adverts, product descriptions, social media content, etc.
We designed GemsbokGPT with Africa in mind. We named our AI business coach and chatbot, Aliko DangoBot, after Africa’s richest man. Another striking feature of GemsbokGPT is the affiliate programme which empowers our users to earn a commission per new user introduced by them. This is our way of incentivising the adoption of technology in Africa. Lastly, our pricing is tailored for the African market. We have succeeded in packaging a collection of various AI solutions on one platform for only $7 per month.
What general/specific problem is the GemsbokGPT designed to solve and how effective is it?
GemsbokGPT, as a generative AI platform, is designed to address a wide range of problems by leveraging its diverse set of AI functions. The platform’s capabilities span various domains, making it versatile in solving different challenges including, but not limited to Language Translation, AI Code Generation while being accessible and affordable
The platform can facilitate language translation and transcription. It allows users to transcribe audio to text, making it useful for transcription services or translating content into different languages, catering to a global audience.
GemsbokGPT’s AI code generator enables users to write computer codes swiftly and accurately with minimum programming experience.
GemsbokGPT aims to make AI technologies accessible to Africans.
The effectiveness and accuracy of GemsbokGPT is mind-blowing. We depend on advanced AI models, continuous improvement and a user-friendly interface to deliver a customised user experience.
There are many AI tools in the market right now including ChatGPT, Google Bard, Jasper Chat, ChatSpot, etc. How is your company bracing for the stiff competition in the African and global AI markets?
We are not in competition with any of the brands you mentioned because GemsbokGPT brings together all of their unique offerings on a single platform. So, we are a meeting point for the solutions those brands offer. Instead of switching from Google Bard to ChatGPT, and mid-journey, etc, you can simply join GemsbokGPT and have access to all in a single platform. This is what is driving our massive adoption.
You have always been a proponent of longevity and you even believe that with science, humans could live up to 150 years. How soon do you think the possibility of humans living up to 150 years could be a reality?
Yes, the longevity field is another emerging field of interest. Biotechnology is going to take the world by storm just like Artificial Intelligence. I am co-founder of a blockchain project − Transhuman Coin, which is investing in longevity research and the development of age reversal therapies. We are led by a high-powered Scientific Advisory Board led by Professor Avinash Singh, a Google award-winning brain machine-interface expert at the University of Technology, Sydney. We have invested in a robotic AI-powered wheelchair which was even tested by Melinda Gates of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Humans will live to over 150 years by 2045.
Nigeria now has a new government that is battling existential technological and economic challenges. If you were appointed the minister of science and technology, how would you address these challenges?
If I am appointed minister of science and technology, I will start solving Nigeria’s technological challenges by investing in Research and Development (R&D). I will allocate significant funding to support research and development initiatives across various sectors. This will have a ripple effect in the academic, techno-scientific sectors of the economy. I will also establish technology innovation hubs across the country to foster a culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. I will prioritise the development and adoption of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and renewable energy solutions.
I wish I could share more but I will be glad if the next minister gets in touch with some of us who are pioneering technological innovation in Africa to contribute to building our nation’s technology industry.
What advice do you have for your followers and Nigerian youths, especially on technology and self-development?
My advice to my followers and mentees in Nigeria and across Africa is “embrace technology because there will be no future without it.”
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