The AIDIA seminar welcomes submissions of research papers about AI Diversity and Inclusion for Africa.

Paper deadline: May 13, 2022.

Seminar date: between 23rd and 29th of July 2022 (TBD).

Seminar overview

Many experts and scientists believe that the future of artificial intelligence is in Africa. The continent with a billion people, a booming economy, and a youthful population is already home to a growing number of AI research hubs, startups, companies, and millions of people who use AI every day. Building AI technologies to solve problems in areas like agriculture, natural language processing, robotics, and cybersecurity significantly impacts the continent’s ability to compete in AI-driven industries. However, the future of AI in Africa is about more than just building the next hot startup continent. It’s about locally building a diverse and inclusive AI ecosystem that empowers the continent’s citizens and improves their lives even in the most disadvantaged and remote communities. The main objective is to develop AI models that enable people with disabilities, low-income groups, and other marginalized populations to access new opportunities in education, health care, employment, and government services. The AIDIA seminar will focus on bringing together research in building inclusive AI solutions accessible to everyone, no matter their situation. The sessions aim to engage participants in groundbreaking conversations to discuss new insights and shape directions to guide future AI research trends for Africa. Researchers from Academia and the industry are invited to submit their innovative AI-based solutions designed to benefit Indigenous communities.

Topics of Interests

Topics of interest include but are not limited to:

  • AI curriculum in African institutions.
  • AI tools for empowering African communities.
  • AI jobs in Africa, including managing startups and recruitment.
  • AI and data science or other related activities for Africa.
  • AI activities for kids and teenagers in Africa.
  • AI for minorities and vulnerable groups in Africa.
  • Bridging the gender divide in AI in Africa.
  • Unconscious bias and how to avoid them in AI.
  • Applications of AI, including healthcare, education, finance, transportation, and agriculture, governance, in Africa.
Seminar format

The seminar will be a half-day seminar. featuring some invited speakers, as well as oral presentations of accepted papers. The following paper categories are welcome:

The following paper categories are welcome:
  • Short papers (4-6 pages) and posters (2 pages)
  • Invited talks
Submission Requirements

We accept two types of submissions: short papers (4-6 pages including references) and posters (2 pages). Papers must be formatted following the IJCAI 22 formatting guidelines, available at https://www.ijcai.org/authors_kit

Important Dates
  • May 13, 2022: Paper Due Date
  • June 3, 2022: Notification of Paper Acceptance
  • June 17, 2022: Camera-ready papers due
  • June 23-29: IJCAI Workshops (exact date to be determined)
Organizing Committee
  • Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Ai movement, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
  • Btissam El khamlichi, Ai movement, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
  • Youssef Hmamouche, Ai movement, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
  • Assia Kamal-Idrissi, Ai movement, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, Morocco
Contact information

Seminar website: https://aim.um6p.ma/

For inquiries about the seminar, please contact aim@um6p.ma