SAMA Confirms AI Job Hiring Plans for 2000 Kenyans

source: Business Daily

SAMA has announced ambitions to hire and train 2,000 young men and women to work on computer vision projects for Fortune 500 organizations.

The 2,000 new SAMA employees will be trained in computer vision and data labeling services, a field in great demand among AI developers and Machine Learning (ML) experts worldwide. They will work on a variety of initiatives, including labeling photos and videos for machine learning algorithms as part of upstream AI data development.

The initiative is part of SAMA’s objective to promote possibilities for the underprivileged in Kenya and Uganda through the digital economy. To date, SAMA has assisted over 65,000 people in rising out of poverty and establishing long-term professions in the tech industry.

During the training commissioning, SAMA, Vice President, Global Service Delivery Annepeace Alwala, stated that the digital economy has emerged as a transformative force globally, and that Kenya is well-positioned to contribute to the creation of a more inclusive AI ecosystem in which everyone can make a meaningful impact.

SAMA’s mission, she says, is to harness the potential of marginalized communities and provide them with the tools and skills they need to thrive in the rapidly changing digital landscape. By focusing on underserved youth and women in Nairobi, SAMA hopes to bridge the digital divide and pave the way for long-term economic growth.

“Through this initiative, we are not only creating employment opportunities for Kenyan youths but also ensuring that Kenya plays a significant role in shaping the future of AI development. Together, we’re fostering innovation, creating opportunities, and building a brighter future where Kenyan talent fuels the global AI revolution,” Ms Alwala said.

The first 600 Nairobi participants have already been hired and are receiving training. The remaining 1,500 people will be hired in the coming weeks. The new cohort will join SAMA’s vibrant team of over 3,000 employees in Nairobi to work on computer vision AI projects for some of the world’s largest corporations.

SAMA plans to provide more job to Kenyan youth through its global relationships, and expects the number of individuals to hire to quadruple in the next months, thanks to a favorable business environment. This is consistent with the government’s goal of creating digital jobs.

“The government is keen to turn Kenya into a digital economy by creating a conducive operating environment for the private sector. We congratulate Sama for their commitment to nurturing Kenyan youths on the AI Value chain. By employing 2,000 Kenyan youths, they are paving the way for a brighter future where talent meets technology, creating opportunities for our nation’s brightest minds,” State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy Principal Secretary Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui said.

As in The Economic Development in Africa Report 2023: The Potential of Africa to Capture Technology-intensive Global Supply Chains, because technology-intensive companies tend to pay better wages and can have a favorable job-multiplier impact, the prospect for increased employment in those areas will have unquestionable benefits for the workforce and will support long-term growth in Africa. Making it easier for enterprises in those areas to develop or build new supplier ties in African countries will assist improve African salaries.

The training curriculum will include topics such as computer vision, machine learning, and data annotation. Participants will also receive soft skills training in areas such as communication, teamwork, and problem solving.

SAMA is a pioneer in the impact sourcing model, with a proven track record of providing high-quality services to clients while creating long-term employment opportunities for talented but underserved communities in Kenya, Uganda, and India. The company’s dedication to social responsibility and sustainability has earned it global recognition from industry leaders and organizations.

Locally, SAMA has been in Kenya for 15 years and continues to offer quality formal jobs for Kenyans by providing value chain AI solutions for self-driving cars, virtual reality gaming consoles, fashion segmentation, and crop disease protection.