High cost of training data hinders Nigeria’s AI development – Expert

• Published On: 30 August 2024 at 18:14

Dr. Oluseyi Akindeinde, the founder of Hyperscale, the company behind Neural AI, has identified the high cost of training data as a major barrier to AI development in Nigeria.

This was revealed by Akindeinde at the Nigerian Information Technology Reporters Association ICT Growth Conference 4.0 in Lagos, according to Nairametrics.

Akindeinde stated that many Nigerian companies with AI innovations struggle to train their own data due to the prohibitive costs.

"To train AI data, you need large servers, which are expensive. NVIDIA is the largest company in AI today because they sell these servers that are used to train AI data, with one costing around $500,000 and requiring two to three racks of approximately 10-10 of them. So, we're talking millions of dollars," he explained.

He emphasized the importance of increased AI education in Nigeria in order to advance the technology, citing a lack of understanding of AI among stakeholders as a barrier to progress.

He explained that obtaining AI patents in Nigeria is difficult because those involved, particularly lawyers and other non-technical professionals, are unfamiliar with the technology.

Akindeinde advocated for targeted education to close this gap and streamline the patenting process.

"We must educate lawyers, judges, and others about blockchain, generative AI, and other technologies so that they can make sound decisions.

''To advance and effectively leverage AI, we must address this education gap. He stated that it is not only a technical issue, but also one of education and awareness.

Meanwhile, Mr Adesola Akinsanya, President of the Nigeria Internet Registration Association, stated that AI is rapidly transforming industries and economies around the world, and Nigeria should not be an exception.

He also emphasized that realizing the benefits of AI necessitates careful consideration of its potential, the development of sound policies, and the resolution of associated challenges.

"A single entity cannot address the complex challenges we face on its own. "We can drive inclusive, sustainable, and transformative growth through partnerships, shared knowledge, and collective action," he stated.

Akinsanya urged all stakeholders, including industry leaders, policymakers, academia, and civil society, to join forces with NITRA, despite NiRA's commitment to the cause of building a strong digital ecosystem.

He emphasized the importance of working together to develop policies that encourage innovation and infrastructure that can meet future demands.

He also emphasized the importance of developing a skilled workforce capable of leading in a digital world.

Stanford University recently published a report revealing that the high cost of training AI models is limiting non-industry actors' participation in the technology revolution.