Desta's Visit to iCog Labs

Imagine a world where AI and humanity come together. Desta the Robot, the fascinating AI robot created by Hanson Robotics, serves as that bridge, making complex technology interface with humans. Ethiopia had the honor of hosting a revolutionary showcase in Addis Ababa. This public showcase was not just about celebrating Ethiopia's achievements in AI, it was about inspiring young Ethiopians to become the future pioneers who will shape a more responsible and inclusive AI-powered world. Desta’s arrival, in true Ethiopian fashion, was achieved through the collaboration of the Ethiopian AI institute, iCog, and RIDE, powered by Ethio Telecom’s 5G network and Ethiopian Airlines held at the new Science Museum in the open space to reach the masses.

Desta's presence was a talked about event, but more importantly, it demonstrated a future filled with possibility. A future where AI is used responsibly, ethically, and for the greater good. This is a future where Ethiopians can leverage this technology to drive social change and collaborative innovation. As Desta took the center stage, one thing became clear: the future of Ethiopian AI and tech is bright, and it has a powerful voice that speaks Amharic. Not only was this a fascinating sight for the young but also one that piqued their curiosity and was accompanied by an endless stream of questions: Can she do math? Can she dance? And numerous other “how” and “why” questions that come from children.

So, how did Desta learn how to speak Amharic?

This Hanson Robotics and SingularityNET’s creation is an interesting piece  of technology. By utilizing text-to-speech and speech-to-text generation, Desta can converse in Amharic, translating  between English and Amharic. Her human-like expressions, powered by fine motors in her face, and her expressive body language further enhance the experience generated based on how the words spoken sound and learned from previous actions. Desta's visit to iCog Labs in April 2024 was a landmark moment. Desta engaged in stimulating discussions with AI experts and fueled by Amharic datasets provided by the Ethiopian AI Institute, Desta's linguistic skills were sharpened to fluency. These dialogues shaped the way we understand and interact with AI and ignited crucial conversations about its potential for fostering productive dialogue and collaboration.

But Desta isn't just about lectures, on April 11th, she joined the legendary Dr. Mulatu Astatke for a one-of-a-kind jazz performance. Ethiopians have a deep love for music, and this collaboration between state of the art AI and a musical icon highlights the potential of AI to contribute to the country's rich cultural tapestry uniting the young and old. Look at the event video here https://youtu.be/33Z69uWPFc4?si=TWIZjE4tX08vAuo7

And the best part? This is just the beginning, Leyu another revolutionary service is taking the steps needed to bring AI closer to local African and Ethiopian languages. Learn more at https://leyu.ai