Zambia convened the Deep Learning IndabaX 2025 at the Urban Hotel in Lusaka, bringing together leading artificial intelligence AI experts and innovators under the theme "Holding Hands for Zambia's AI Future Together." The event showcased Zambia's commitment to positioning itself as a regional hub for ethical, inclusive, and locally relevant AI innovation.
The two-day gathering highlighted Zambia's progress in AI adoption across key sectors. In healthcare, AI-powered tools like Dawa Health are improving maternal outcomes through intelligent triage systems. In mining, AI-driven exploration by Kobold Metals identified a promising copper deposit at Mingomba. Agriculture is also benefiting, with AI-enabled advisory tools boosting crop yields by 20-30 in areas affected by climate variability.
The conference underscored the National AI Strategy 2024-2026, which provides a framework for Zambia's AI-driven transformation. Anchored on six pillars-policy and regulation, human capital development, infrastructure and data ecosystems, research and innovation, sectoral integration, and international partnerships-the strategy aims to increase STEM participation from 23 to 40 by 2030, expand internet access to 75, and drive productivity gains across agriculture, manufacturing, and financial services.
