The event comprised two parts: a Q&A session with Altman and a meet-and-greet opportunity for the attendees. Sudhanshu Gaurav, Co-founder of Incash, expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating, “It was a great event. Looking forward to integrating AI into our startup and cannot wait to see how it makes a huge difference to the African Tech space in the next few years.”
Reliable sources indicate that Nigeria may have been Altman’s sole destination in Africa, as he was scheduled to depart for Europe on the same day as the event. Another source revealed that OpenAI is actively seeking developers in Nigeria.
While the exact purpose of Altman’s visit was not officially disclosed by the company, Olusola Ayoola of RAIN Technologies suggested that Altman was in Nigeria to understand how OpenAI could cater to the country’s specific needs.
It is worth noting that OpenAI has faced criticism regarding unfair compensation and layoffs of Kenyan workers during the development of ChatGPT, which has been a well-known issue related to OpenAI in Africa. This visit may be an opportunity for OpenAI to address those concerns and improve its reputation on the continent.
However, OpenAI may face challenges in Africa, as another tech giant, Meta, has been entangled in lawsuits on the continent for several months. Meta has faced labor-related accusations regarding inhumane working conditions through one of its contractors, Sama.
OpenAI’s visit to Africa might also signify its intention to expand its business operations on the continent. While platforms like Salesforce, Air India, and Duolingo have integrated with ChatGPT, there have been limited instances of African platforms doing the same. OpenAI could be seeking partnerships with African platforms that can benefit from integrating with its API, aiming to establish itself as the leading company for AI solutions in Africa.
While past visits from other Big Tech companies have been driven by profitability, the true purpose of OpenAI’s visit to Africa remains a mystery.
On Friday, May 19, 2023, Sam Altman, the prominent figure from OpenAI, attended an exclusive event held at the Muson Centre in Lagos, Nigeria. The gathering attracted numerous tech executives, investors, and founders.
The event comprised two parts: a Q&A session with Altman and a meet-and-greet opportunity for the attendees. Sudhanshu Gaurav, Co-founder of Incash, expressed enthusiasm about the event, stating, “It was a great event. Looking forward to integrating AI into our startup and cannot wait to see how it makes a huge difference to the African Tech space in the next few years.”
Reliable sources indicate that Nigeria may have been Altman’s sole destination in Africa, as he was scheduled to depart for Europe on the same day as the event. Another source revealed that OpenAI is actively seeking developers in Nigeria.
While the exact purpose of Altman’s visit was not officially disclosed by the company, Olusola Ayoola of RAIN Technologies suggested that Altman was in Nigeria to understand how OpenAI could cater to the country’s specific needs.
It is worth noting that OpenAI has faced criticism regarding unfair compensation and layoffs of Kenyan workers during the development of ChatGPT, which has been a well-known issue related to OpenAI in Africa. This visit may be an opportunity for OpenAI to address those concerns and improve its reputation on the continent.
However, OpenAI may face challenges in Africa, as another tech giant, Meta, has been entangled in lawsuits on the continent for several months. Meta has faced labor-related accusations regarding inhumane working conditions through one of its contractors, Sama.
OpenAI’s visit to Africa might also signify its intention to expand its business operations on the continent. While platforms like Salesforce, Air India, and Duolingo have integrated with ChatGPT, there have been limited instances of African platforms doing the same. OpenAI could be seeking partnerships with African platforms that can benefit from integrating with its API, aiming to establish itself as the leading company for AI solutions in Africa.
While past visits from other Big Tech companies have been driven by profitability, the true purpose of OpenAI’s visit to Africa remains a mystery.
