Wikimania 2025

Professor Vukosi Marivate

Prof Vukosi Marivate is a Professor of Computer Science and holds the ABSA UP Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria. He specialises in developing Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) methods to extract insights from data, with a particular focus on the intersection of ML/AI and Natural Language Processing (NLP). His research is dedicated to improving the methods, tools and availability of data for local or low-resource languages. As the leader of the Data Science for Social Impact research group in the Computer Science department, Vukosi is interested in using data science to solve social challenges. He has worked on projects related to science, energy, public safety, and utilities, among others. Prof Marivate is a co-founder of Lelapa AI, an African startup focused on AI for Africans by Africans. Vukosi is a chief investigator on the Masakhane Research Foundation, which aims to develop NLP technologies for African languages. Vukosi is also a co-founder of the Deep Learning Indaba, the leading grassroots Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence conference on the African continent that aims to empower and support African researchers and practitioners in the field.


Session

08-07
11:45
55min
Wikimania@20 Keynote Panel on AI
Dr. Joyce Nakatumba-Nabende, Professor Vukosi Marivate, Selena Deckelmann, Dr. Job Mwaura

🎥 Session recording: https://youtu.be/WaWk6hNGRrk?list=PLhV3K_DS5YfJtMBKTkOdmzfP3ENS24BJ-&t=6717 🎥

In a rapidly evolving digital world- and looking ahead- the Wikimedia movement cannot operate in isolation from other key actors that contribute to the work we do. As we continue to grow and adapt, the question of digital participation including how we adapt, respond and shape technological change is central to our long term sustainability and impact.

NAIROBI (🗣️ ar, es, fr, sw)