International Business Machines Corporation has launched a project christened “project Lucy” a ten year initiative to bring Watson and other cognitive systems to Africa to motivate development and spur business opportunities.
The $100M project will give scientists and partner’s access to the world’s most advanced cognitive computing technologies in which systems and software are not programmed but improve by learning so they can discover answers to questions as well as analyze big amounts of data.
Having recently launched the first African laboratory in Kenya, the firm will deploy Watson technologies providing researchers with powerful set of resources to help develop commercially- viable solutions in key areas concerning day to day human activities; healthcare, education, water and sanitation human mobility and agriculture.
Science and technology well integrated with economic planning aligned to the African landscape is a must field to heavily invest in to have Watson in the continent in order to create opportunity for innovative research partnerships between IBM and African organizations.
The move by IBM will be of great help to African challenges and will advance technologies by help of local knowledge and expertise. partners will be able to tap into unparalleled expertise in cognitive computing across its 12 global laboratories and new Watson business unit .
The first two areas of focus in the new center will be healthcare and education.
