Intel is a world-renowned leader in the design and manufacturing of essential technologies that power the cloud in an increasingly smart and connected world. The company’s commitment to make technology inclusive and to expand digital readiness for all is captured in their purpose-statement, stating that their aim is to create world-changing technology that improves the life of every person on the planet.
One Intel-initiative that serves this very purpose is the annual AI Global Impact Festival that provides opportunities and platforms for future innovators to learn, showcase and celebrate the impact of AI innovations in their lives by working to solve real-world challenges, using artificial intelligence (AI) with the support of policymakers and academic leaders. This year, students from 26 countries around the globe participated in the Festival under the theme, “Enriching Lives with AI Innovation”. The competition focused on building digital readiness for all students and celebrating AI innovations that drive inclusion, accessibility and responsible impact.
Students competed in two respective age groups (13-18 years and 18+ years) in the category AI Impact Creators aimed at presenting innovative, social impact AI projects. Being the only institution in Africa that boasts an AI programme offered in partnership with Intel, ORBIT TVET College entered the student competition with two exclusive projects. In doing so, the College proudly represented the entire Africa in this global competition. The project, Asset Management System was presented by ORBIT College Brits Campus students Johannes Mokami, Elisa Mosesenyane and Koketse Sikhu.
The project addressed the problem of financial loss occurring due to unmonitored movement of assets by developing algorithms that monitor the movement of assets. The second project, Stress Detect was presented by Justice Langeni, Letlhogonolo Matlaela and Lebogang Mpete and addressed the challenge of distress among communities and college students due to the socio-economic status of the Bojanala District. The group offered a solution by developing algorithms that are able to identify stress levels at an early stage which, in turn enables appropriate referrals.
The ORBIT students were up against competitors of seventeen other countries and an incredible total of almost 1000 AI projects in the preliminary round. Projects were judged on how well they relate to and address potential risks and winners’ projects were also set to undergo an ethics audit by Intel’s Responsible AI team, inspired by the protocol followed for every company AI project. Both ORBIT College projects were successful in reaching the final shortlist of 75 projects in the category.
Upon concluding the final adjudication, it was the Stress Detect project of Justice, Letlhogonolo and Lebogang that flew the College high by being awarded third place as country/region winners in the AI Impact Creators (18+ years) category, making them the recipients of an incredible $1000.
What makes this achievement even more remarkable is the fact that the AI programme in partnership with Intel was only launched at Brits Campus as a pilot programme in July 2022. In just over a year, ORBIT College managed to not only participate in the AI field at global level, but also managed to attain an award-winning third place! ORBIT College is immensely proud of this remarkable achievement by our AI students from Brits Campus!
