Grok was first launched on November 4, 2023, and has over the past year undergone significant improvements with the company launching Grok-2 in August 2024.
Previously, Grok was only available to X Premium and Premium+ subscribers, a move that limited access to paying users.
However, in a strategic shift, X has now rolled out Grok for free to all users on its platform. This decision aims to broaden the AI’s user base, gather real-time feedback, and refine its capabilities through more extensive interaction.
According to a recent statement, X said the latest version of Grok is faster, sharper, and offers enhanced multilingual support, making it more accessible and effective for users around the world.
The AI chatbot now includes additional features such as web search, citations, and Aurora, X’s recently released image generator.
“Since launching Grok-2 in August, we have been hard at work improving Grok on X, adding new features like web search, citations, and our recent image generator, Aurora,” the statement read.
“Over the past few weeks we have been quietly testing a new version of the Grok-2 model, which is three times faster and offers improved accuracy, instruction-following, and multilingual capabilities.”
This development is part of X’s broader push to enhance user experience through artificial intelligence.
Grok, inspired by Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, was designed to be playful and capable of handling a wide range of conversational topics, including those deemed “spicy” or complex.
According to the social media giant, the design also aligns with Musk’s advocacy for free speech, allowing Grok to tackle challenging and sensitive subjects with greater openness compared to its competitors.
Despite being free, access to Grok comes with certain limitations to ensure smooth performance and maintain a balanced user experience. Free-tier users can send up to 10 messages every two hours, analyze up to three images per day, and generate no more than three images daily.
Additionally, to access Grok, a user’s account must be at least seven days old and linked to a verified phone number.
Premium and Premium+ subscribers, on the other hand, enjoy significantly higher usage limits. Premium users can send up to 50 messages per day and face fewer restrictions on features like image generation and analysis.
With this move, X is aiming to establish Grok as a formidable rival to other leading AI chatbots, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, and Anthropic’s Claude.
The decision to make Grok free is also a part of X’s long-term strategy to integrate AI tools seamlessly into its platform, both on mobile and web. Users can interact with Grok through a dedicated section where they can engage in conversations, analyze content, and generate images using Aurora.
In this article, we highlight notable events and achievements in the tech sector over the past 12 months.
{{Launch of Kigali Innovation City}}
After more than a decade of conceptualization, Rwanda, in September, laid the foundation stone for Kigali Innovation City in Gasabo District.
Spanning 61 hectares, the project aims to promote innovation and technology-driven growth. With an estimated cost of $2 billion, the development will host international universities, technology companies, commercial facilities, and more.
The initiative is spearheaded by the Government of Rwanda through the Rwanda Development Board (RDB), in collaboration with Africa50, an investment platform focused on infrastructure projects that drive development across Africa.
Kigali Innovation City will feature a state-of-the-art center with specialized bases for Artificial Intelligence and cybersecurity. Notably, some buildings will feature solar-powered roofs, and electric vehicles will serve as the primary mode of transportation within the area, further promoting efforts toward environmental sustainability.
Dr. Francis Gatare, CEO of RDB, lauded the project as a major milestone for Rwanda in its quest to establish a knowledge-based and technology-driven economy.
“We are here to celebrate this achievement for our nation, its leadership, and the people of Rwanda, who are committed to building a knowledge-based economy that fosters innovation and sustainable development,” he said.
Once fully completed, the project is expected to generate $150 million annually from the technology developed there and attract $300 million in foreign investment.
{{Rwanda Unveils National FinTech Strategy to Spur Financial Growth
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Rwanda’s Ministry of ICT launched a five-year FinTech Strategy (2024–2029) on November 28, 2024, aiming to foster a robust FinTech ecosystem and position the country as a regional financial hub.
The strategy prioritizes improving financial literacy, expanding access to investment, enhancing regulatory frameworks, and developing digital infrastructure.
“Today marks a significant milestone in Rwanda’s digital transformation journey as we launch our national fintech strategy. This strategy represents not just a policy document but our country’s commitment to positioning Rwanda as a leading fintech hub in Africa,” Rwandan Minister of ICT and Innovation Paula Ingabire said during the launch in Kigali.
Rwanda aims to attract 300 FinTech players, generate 7,500 jobs, and raise $200 million in investments by 2029.
{{AI Connect Hackathon}}
In September, Irembo, a Rwandan technology company behind the development of the government’s one-stop service platform, hosted its first-ever hackathon on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
The 48-hour competition, co-hosted by Irembo and the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), brought together more than 20 teams of talented software developers to create solutions addressing real-world challenges and driving meaningful impact in sectors such as public services, healthcare, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and cybersecurity.
21-year-old duo, Cedric Izabayo and Libériste Clarence, emerged as the winners of the hackathon, which was hosted in Nyarutarama from Friday, September 27 to Sunday, September 29, 2024.
The young software engineers’ AI project, dubbed Bwenge, was ranked first among 18 projects reviewed by judges, securing them Rwf 5 million in cash prizes and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025.
Bwenge is an AI-powered chatbot that allows any citizen with a phone, even without internet access, to make a call and access digital government services. The winning team integrated the bot with IremboPay, ensuring seamless payments.
Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the project has the potential to revolutionize access to information, especially for persons with limited internet access.
The second place went to a team of four developers with a technology titled Immersive AI. It’s a platform that enables businesses and individuals to create their own AI workflow agents to automate processes and improve productivity. The project developers included Dirac Murairi, Landelin Gihozo, Julien Barezi and Kevin Nkusi.
Somatek AI clinched the third place. The project was also undertaken by group of four young software developers, who built an AI-powered browser extension that simplifies complex technical documentation. The team, comprising Janvier Ntwali, Laura Celine Ishimwe, Dean Daryl Murenzi, and Leny Pascal Ihirwe, developed the extension to assist the government in its recently rolled-out scheme to train one million coders under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) by 2029.
The two teams won Frw2 million and Frw1 million, respectively.
The hackathon underscored Rwanda’s commitment to leveraging artificial intelligence for sustainable development.
{{Digital Innovation in Museums}}
The introduction of virtual reality (VR) technology in Rwandan museums on August 30, 2024, has revolutionized the visitor experience by offering immersive historical and cultural exhibits.
The initiative was launched in partnership with Innorios, a local tech company specializing in the implementation of VR solutions.
The project offers two distinct types of virtual tours: a self-guided 360-degree virtual tour accessible via smartphones and computers and a more immersive VR experience using headsets. With this solution, one can experience facilities such as the Ethnographic Museum in Huye from the comfort of their living room.
“The self-guided virtual tour allows users to navigate through the museum’s exhibits at their own pace. With just a few clicks, visitors can move from one section to another, exploring artifacts in stunning 3D detail,” said Musa Shumbusho, Founder of Innorios, during the launch.
{{Broadband and Connectivity Developments}}
Over the past 12 months, Rwanda has continued its efforts to expand high-speed internet access nationwide, contributing to its Smart Rwanda Master Plan.
Partnerships with global tech firms have bolstered infrastructure for digital services and e-governance. For example, MTN Rwanda, the country’s largest telecommunications company, and Ericsson, on November 5, 2024, announced the completion of the expansion and modernization of MTN’s network in Kigali, Rwanda, to extend network coverage, enhance user experience in the country, and prepare the network for the full rollout of 5G.
With the expansion and modernization, communities in the country are expected to benefit from boosted connectivity and digitization, better access to education and healthcare, and more. These benefits are expected to bolster stronger social connections, stimulate economic development, and empower communities.
{{Hanga Pitchfest 2024}}
The Ministry of ICT and Innovation, in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), successfully organized the 2024 edition of the Hanga Pitchfest in November in Kigali.
The competition, held annually, supports young entrepreneurs with ideas that could contribute to Rwanda’s development and technological progress.
The Hanga Pitchfest 2024 concluded with five youth-led projects winning a combined total of Frw110 million, aimed at promoting innovative, technology-driven solutions.
This year’s winner, Sinc-Today Ltd, received Frw50 million for its platform that revolutionizes event planning and coordination.
The second and third prizes went to Geuza Ltd (which manufactures assistive devices for people with disabilities) and Afya Wave (focused on producing ultrasound devices for medical use), receiving Rwf 20 million and Frw15 million, respectively.
The competition recognizes projects addressing diverse issues, from waste management to healthcare innovation. Finalists were selected from over 300 entries and awarded based on their potential impact.
Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Dr. Edouard Ngirente emphasized the importance of empowering Africa’s youth through investment and collaboration to drive sustainable development.
He stressed the need for further investment in technology skills, which are essential for job creation and economic growth in the digital age. Additionally, the government launched the Hanga Hubs initiative, in partnership with the EU, which aims to support entrepreneurs and foster innovation in Rwanda’s districts.
Since its inception in 2021, Hanga Pitchfest has supported over 200 projects and invested over Frw600 million in entrepreneurial development, cementing its role as a key player in Rwanda’s technological and economic future.
Meanwhile, one of the high-level tech events scheduled for this year, the Global AI Summit on Africa, which was originally set for October, was rescheduled to April 2025. The event is being organized by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Rwanda, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum.
According to the organizers, the summit will bring together distinguished government and business leaders, along with experts from academia and civil society, to engage in an in-depth, collaborative dialogue on AI’s transformative role in shaping Africa’s future. The summit will be held under the theme, “AI and Africa’s Demographic Dividend: Reimagining Economic Opportunities for Africa’s Workforce.”
The organizers stated that the event was postponed as part of a strategic effort to broaden perspectives, ensuring the achievement of their collective goal of fostering impactful discussions and forging transformative partnerships that will advance Africa’s AI agenda.
The training focused on using technology to monitor and improve the coffee value chain through a system called the Digital Farm Extension Monitoring System (DFEMS).
TechnoServe, a long-time partner in Rwanda’s coffee sector for over 15 years, developed the technology in collaboration with BK TechHouse, which implemented the project aimed at enhancing coffee farming by collecting, storing, and quickly disseminating data to the relevant stakeholders.
Sildio Mbonyumuhire, TechnoServe’s Global Technology Lead, explained that the technology helps farmers track their farming activities and apply what they’ve learned about improving coffee quality.
He said, “In the 50 coffee washing stations we tested with, we saw positive results. The agronomist at the station uses the technology to track farmers in the zone they work in, learn where their farms are, and understand how they are implementing the advice they’ve received.”
Mbonyumuhire said that that this technology helps uplift farmers with weaker performance, leading to increased productivity in both quantity and quality.
The system requires tools such as tablets, computers, and low-cost mobile phones using the USSD technology, easy to use for many farmers who are not familiar with advanced tech.
“For low-income farmers, using a basic mobile phone, they can perform simple tasks like confirming receipt of fertilizers or seeds,” he added.
Marcel Abimana, the district officer from Gatsibo, where coffee is grown on 5.2 hectares, producing 12.5 tons per hectare, noted that this technology eases their work. It helps them connect farmers’ information to their yield securely.
He said, “In the past, when someone visited a farmer and wrote information down, it could get lost or damaged. Now, all the data shared during farmer discussions will instantly reach the intended recipients.”
Abimana believes that this initiative will improve coffee quality and boost productivity, making the entire coffee value chain more efficient starting with the farmer.
Dr. Olivier Kamana, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources (MINAGRI), who concluded the training, emphasized that Rwanda’s coffee has become a symbol of national pride.
He urged all those involved in coffee farming to keep improving its quality, noting that the government continues to support this effort.
He praised TechnoServe’s contributions to Rwanda’s development, especially in coffee farming from planting to market preparation.
“TechnoServe started by helping us build coffee farmer cooperatives, and now they’ve introduced technology that helps us reach farmers more effectively, eliminating the strain on agronomists. It also helps secure all the data, including what an agronomist would normally discuss with a farmer, reducing the chance of forgetting crucial information. More so, national data base will be promptly updated,” he said.
One of the successes in Rwanda’s coffee farming is that at least 82% of Rwandan coffee reaches the market well-processed, adding value on international markets. This has been achieved through close partnership between TechnoServe and NAEB.
Rwanda’s coffee sector generated $112 million in revenue in 2022, benefiting over 400,000 households across the country.
The DFEMS technology was implemented as part of the ‘Rwanda Ikawa Nziza Project’ that started in January 2021 and will end in January 2025.
TechnoServe has also integrated the DFEMS system into the government’s existing Smart Kungahara System (SKS) to ensure the technology reaches all districts in Rwanda even after the project ends, while continuing to expand and improve.
In addition to the technology, the project has been instrumental in distributing high-quality coffee seeds, with at least two million seeds provided in six districts; Gisagara, Huye, Nyamagabe, Rusizi, Nyamasheke, and Karongi.
The electric Robotaxi also referred to as Cybercab will cost less than $30,000 (approximately Frw 40 million), Tesla CEO and tech mogul Elon Musk revealed during the unveiling ceremony held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California, on Thursday night.
Musk revealed that, unlike traditional ride-hailing services requiring a driver, the Cybercab will operate fully autonomously.
“You could fall asleep and wake up at your destination,” Musk stated.
The Robotaxi will utilize Tesla’s Full Self-Driving (FSD) software, allowing it to autonomously navigate highways, city streets, intersections, and perform tasks like lane changes, parking, summoning, and responding to traffic signals.
Tesla’s self-driving technology relies on a powerful neural network that gathers data from millions of Tesla vehicles, constantly learning from real-world driving conditions to improve the vehicle’s safety and decision-making capabilities.
The Cybercab, a two-seater with butterfly wing doors and no steering wheel or pedals, lacks a rear window. Musk mentioned that Tesla has produced 21 of these vehicles and that 50 fully autonomous vehicles were present at the launch.
Most of the prototypes displayed at the event featured a gold finish. The Cybercab also showcased matrix-style headlights integrated into a front light bar, similar to the Tesla Cybertruck’s design.
While further details were limited, it’s expected that the Cybercab will be Tesla’s first vehicle to feature wireless induction charging as a standard option.
However, some experts believe that the self driving technology still faces hurdles.
Garrett Nelson, a senior equity analyst at CFRA Research, cautioned, “A car capable of functioning as a self-driving taxi is still several years away, with numerous technological hurdles, safety tests, and regulatory approvals standing in the way.”
Tesla isn’t alone in the race for autonomous taxis. In China, Baidu is testing its own self-driving taxis on public roads. Meanwhile, Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company, has been operating driverless taxi services, recently reporting over 100,000 weekly rides in cities like San Francisco, Phoenix, and Los Angeles.
General Motors’ Cruise resumed its autonomous taxi testing following a previous incident, and Amazon’s Zoox is developing a driverless van without a steering wheel, aiming to launch a paid service soon.
Strettch was among over 70 startups that participated in the contest organized by the Ministry of ICT and the Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA) under the Public Procurement for Innovation (PPI) framework, which is currently being piloted. This framework aims to enable public institutions to procure solutions from the innovation ecosystem.
The current research and innovation project is the second of four initiatives funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The first project focused on health.
The first phase of the project implementation began on Thursday, October 3, 2024, with a meeting between the partners and Strettch software engineers at the Rwanda Polytechnic Campus in Kicukiro.
The meeting was attended by key officials including Ephrem Musonera, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor in Charge of Training, Institutional Development, and Research at Rwanda Polytechnic; Parfait Yongabo, the Division Manager in charge of Institutional Development, Research, and Consultancy at Rwanda Polytechnic; Immaculate Mutesi, the Programme Coordinator for ICT at JICA; Dr. Said Ngoga, Technology Innovation Division Manager at RISA; and representatives from PWC Rwanda.
PWC Rwanda serves as the Contract Manager overseeing the project on behalf of PWC Japan.
Yongabo stated that the project will create digital solutions for institutional challenges, primarily supporting students and lecturers in their mandate of teaching, learning, and research.
The platform will enable students to document their learning journeys, support the implementation of innovative projects for both students and researchers, and foster collaborations.
The platform will also increase the visibility of students to potential employers through the generation of eCVs or e-portfolios.
“The portal will be able to generate e-portfolios where employers can quickly access a summary of the competencies and skills of the students. If they are interested, they can reach out to them for employment opportunities,” Yongabo explained.
Additionally, the platform will be integrated with Artificial Intelligence assistance to increase its efficiency and save students and researchers time.
Yongabo noted that while many of the companies that expressed interest in developing the platform had good solutions, Strettch provided the best solution that responded effectively to the challenge at hand.
Sauvé Jean-Luc, the co-founder and CEO of Strettch, was ecstatic that their startup won the bid, noting that the victory came after intense preparations and sleepless nights.
“We were very happy to hear that we were among the finalists because we also had to pitch and do intensive work after pitching,” Jean-Luc explained.
“More than 70 startups applied. It was very tough. We had a tight timeline and had to work hard to make the most of every hour. We needed to understand the problem and the client’s needs while being creative, too.”
The 21-year-old made the presentation alongside Libériste Clarance, one of the five founding members of the company. Both are graduates of the Rwanda Coding Academy, an institution they credit for their skills and exposure.
“Rwanda Coding Academy trained us from the ground up as engineers and encouraged us to think outside the box. We gained knowledge across different sectors, including networking, cybersecurity, software engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence. We learned a lot, so we feel the need to give back more than what is expected,” Jean-Luc said.
The startup founders intend to use the new funding to develop the project and scale up their operations to create even bigger impact.
Immaculate Mutesi, the Programme Coordinator for ICT at JICA, emphasized that the PPI initiative will play a pivotal role in fostering the growth of startups by removing obstacles in traditional procurement.
This will allow emerging companies to compete on equal footing with more established firms, helping them gain valuable experience and contribute to innovation.
“For young startups, tendering their solutions through normal procurement procedures is not possible, as it often requires five to ten years of experience to bid for certain tenders. But with this policy, young startups are being supported to participate regardless of the experience they may lack, so it’s a privilege for JICA to support them,” she quipped.
The 21-year-old software engineers’ AI project, dubbed Bwenge, was ranked first among 18 projects reviewed by judges in the 48-hour competition on Sunday, September 29, 2024, securing them Frw 5 million in cash prizes and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025.
Bwenge is an AI-powered chatbot that allows any citizen with a phone, even without internet access, to make a call and access digital government services. The bot has been integrated with IremboPay, a payment solution for Rwanda’s one-stop shop for government services, to ensure seamless payments.
“You can ask the bot how to do things, for example, how to start a business in Rwanda, and it will provide you with a detailed guide,” Izabayo explained.
“You can also request an SMS on how to pay for an application, and it will send you a direct text. You can then call, and the system will prompt you to make a payment through mobile money (MOMO).”
Another interesting feature of the chatbot is its telephone agent, which allows two people who speak different languages to have a conversation on a call, with the bot translating for each of them.
Izabayo and Clarence are graduates of the Rwanda Coding Academy and work at Pivot Access and Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB), respectively. The two young software developers could not contain their excitement after winning the top prize on their very first attempt at such a competition.
“This journey was really interesting; it showed us what we can accomplish in less than 48 hours. We were thinking about what we could do to provide value to the whole Rwandan society, especially for those who don’t have access to the internet,” Clarence beamed, adding that ironically they were among the last groups to apply for the hackathon, just a few hours before the application deadline.
The duo is open to collaborating with other partners to implement and explore other ideas leveraging artificial intelligence.
“We have the ability to do more things. Now we are using a phone, but one can use WhatsApp to send requests. The possibilities are endless,” Izabayo concluded.
Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the project has the potential to revolutionize access to information, especially for persons with limited internet access.
“The project can have a huge impact in Rwanda because the way it’s deployed allows people without internet to access information by just calling a phone number. It can have a huge impact in urban and rural areas,” Djomga stated, emphasizing that the pioneering event was organised to create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in Rwanda.
The second place went to a team of four developers with a technology titled Immersive AI. It’s a platform that enables businesses and individuals to create their own AI workflow agents to automate processes and improve productivity. The project developers included Dirac Murairi, Landelin Gihozo, Julien Barezi and Kevin Nkusi.
Somatek AI clinched the third place. The project was also undertaken by group of four young software developers, who built an AI-powered browser extension that simplifies complex technical documentation. The team, comprising Janvier Ntwali, Laura Celine Ishimwe, Dean Daryl Murenzi, and Leny Pascal Ihirwe, developed the extension to assist the government in its recently rolled-out scheme to train one million coders under the second National Strategy for Transformation (NST2) by 2029.
“Given that most Rwandan youth are low-proficient English speakers, we decided to create a solution for them to transcribe technical documentation to their level for better understanding and learning experiences,” the team explained.
The two teams won Frw 2 million and Frw 1 million, respectively.
In developing practical AI solutions, the participants leveraged large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies. Teams had the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, also provided access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI models for voice-enabled applications.
Twenty teams comprising 63 individuals were initially selected to participate in the competition from a pool of more than 130 teams, but only 18 teams made it to the final stage and had their projects reviewed by a panel of eminent judges from Irembo, C4IR, and RSSB, among other partners.
Esther Kunda, the Director General of Innovation & Emerging Technologies at the Ministry of ICT and Innovation in Rwanda and Alain Ndayishimiye, Project Lead for AI/ML at C4IR Rwanda, were among the judges.
Ndayishimiye commended the dedication of all the teams in the competition, highlighting the creativity in their projects.
“Over the past 48 hours, we have witnessed remarkable technical ingenuity, creativity, and collaboration, turning many ideas into real MVPs that address some of the country’s most pressing challenges,” he remarked.
He emphasized that every participant, irrespective of the contest’s outcome, should take pride in their accomplishments and push themselves to achieve even more.
“Regardless of the results, you should be proud of your achievements. We look forward to more initiatives like this, aligned with the AI policy, to support local talent and foster meaningful change,” he added.
The teams comprise 63 young software engineers from diverse backgrounds who will be working in groups of two to four, with strong determination to leave their mark in the ever-evolving world of technology.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the hackathon at the Irembo Campus in Nyarutarama, Peter Charles Djomga, Director of Software Engineering at Irembo, said the 48-hour competition aims to identify talent and create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in society.
“We want to increase the capability of having doers in the IT ecosystem—not only people who can come and talk about AI, but people who can build things that have a real impact in the community,” Djomga stated.
Djomga noted that the 20 teams participating in the contest were selected from a pool of more than 130 teams who expressed interest in the competition.
In under 48 hours, participants, hosted at two Irembo campuses, are expected to harness the power of artificial intelligence and build functional, AI-driven applications to create innovative solutions for public services, healthcare, education, customer service, agriculture, financial inclusion, and cybersecurity, among other fields.
In developing practical AI solutions, the participants will leverage large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies. Teams will also have the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, will provide access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI models for voice-enabled applications.
Coding for the project kicked off at 7:00 p.m. on Friday and is expected to close at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday when the participants will submit their projects. Thereafter, presentations of the solutions to a panel of distinguished judges will commence and conclude by 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, followed by the unveiling of the top innovators.
According to the organizers, the judging criteria for the AI Connect Hackathon will focus on four key areas:
First, impact —judges will assess the project’s long-term potential for growth and its ability to improve people’s lives. Second, creativity —the originality and innovation of the AI application will be evaluated. Third, technical implementation —the quality of the technology’s execution will be taken into account. Finally, presentation —the team’s final pitch will be judged on how compelling and clear it is.
The winning team will receive a cash prize of RWF 5 million and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025. Second- and third-place teams will receive RWF 2 million and RWF 1 million, respectively.
Besides the cash rewards, all participants will benefit from invaluable exposure, networking opportunities, and potential internships with event sponsors like the Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB).
Patrick Rusimbi, a fourth-year Information Technology (IT) student at Adventist University Central Africa, expressed his excitement, stating that the facilities and resources provided by partners, including Groq API, will help him bring his long-harboured idea to life and possibly secure funding and other assistance to scale it up to have a worldwide impact.
“I have had my idea for the last six months. I have been yearning for an opportunity to bring it to life. When I saw this hackathon, I saw an opportunity to build something that no one has seen before,” Rusimbi told IGIHE.
In a statement, the technology company said the pioneering event will bring together some of the brightest minds in AI and technology to create solutions that address real-world challenges and drive meaningful impact in Rwanda.
The AI Connect Hackathon will unite 20 teams of AI developers, data scientists, and problem-solvers, challenging them to harness the power of artificial intelligence to create innovative solutions for public services, healthcare, education, customer service, agriculture, financial inclusion, education, and cybersecurity.
In under 48 hours, participants will work to build functional, AI-driven applications that address critical issues affecting Rwandan society.
“This hackathon goes beyond coding prototypes; it’s about unlocking the transformative power of AI to ignite real change where it’s needed most,” said Patrick Ndjientcheu, Irembo’s Chief Product and Engineering Officer.
“We are committed to leveraging AI’s boundless potential to address critical societal challenges, empower communities, and spark innovations that leave a lasting, meaningful impact on people’s lives.”
Throughout the three-day event, participants will leverage large language models (LLMs) and locally built technologies to develop practical AI solutions.
Teams will have the opportunity to access IremboPay APIs to integrate cutting-edge digital payment solutions into their projects. Pindo, a partner of the event, will also provide access to its latest speech-to-text and text-to-speech AI model for voice-enabled applications.
Irembo AI experts will guide participants, helping them refine their ideas and push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.
On the final day, teams will pitch their solutions to a panel of distinguished judges, with the top innovations receiving prestigious recognition.
The judging criteria for the AI Connect Hackathon will focus on four key areas:
First, impact—judges will assess the project’s long-term potential for growth and its ability to improve people’s lives. Second, creativity—the originality and innovation of the AI application will be evaluated. Third, technical implementation—the quality of the technology’s execution will be taken into account. Finally, presentation—the team’s final pitch will be judged on how compelling and clear it is.
{{Prizes
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The team that secures first place will receive RWF 5 million and VIP passes to the Global AI Summit on Africa in April 2025. The second-place team will be awarded RWF 2 million, while the third-place team will receive RWF 1 million.
In addition to cash prizes, the winning teams will gain invaluable exposure and recognition for their contributions in using AI for social good.
The event is co-organized with C4IR and supported by several other sponsors, including Pindo, GIZ, Andela, and QT Global Software. Rwanda Social Security Board (RSSB) will also offer internships to the winning teams, providing them with valuable hands-on experience and an opportunity to apply their solutions in real-world scenarios.
This achievement was highlighted in this year’s Global Cybersecurity Index report by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), which ranked Rwanda among the top countries worldwide, placing it in the first tier with a score exceeding 95%.
Rwanda was grouped with 46 other nations that have been designated as “Role Model” countries, demonstrating exemplary commitment to all five pillars of cybersecurity.
Among these were five African nations—Rwanda, Mauritius, Ghana, Kenya, and Tanzania—standing alongside global powers such as Japan, the United States, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and South Korea.
The report noted Rwanda’s remarkable achievements across several key areas, starting with its legal framework.
Rwanda has enacted comprehensive laws governing cybercrimes and data protection, which ensure the security of personal data and mitigate the risks of cyberattacks on sensitive information.
This legal foundation fosters trust among both citizens and businesses engaging with digital technologies, positioning the country as a leader in safeguarding its cyberspace.
Another area of distinction is Rwanda’s technical approach to cybersecurity. The country has established the Rwanda Computer Security Incident Response Team (Rw-CSIRT), which plays a critical role in monitoring and addressing potential cybersecurity threats.
This proactive system enables Rwanda to mitigate risks and swiftly respond to any cyber-related incidents, reinforcing its reputation as a secure digital environment.
Organizationally, Rwanda’s National Cybersecurity Strategy was also highlighted in the report as a model framework for national protection.
The strategy outlines a comprehensive plan for defending the country’s cyberspace, with specialized agencies overseeing the implementation of policies and ensuring the nation is well-prepared to face potential technology-related risks.
Rwanda’s commitment to developing skills in cybersecurity was another key factor in its high ranking. The country has made significant investments in educating professionals and students in the field, notably through initiatives like the Rwanda Coding Academy.
This program equips young people with the technical knowledge necessary for success in the growing tech industry, while partnerships with international universities offer Rwandans the opportunity to gain global expertise in cybersecurity.
Moreover, Rwanda’s emphasis on international cooperation further bolsters its cybersecurity landscape. By fostering partnerships with other nations and private entities, Rwanda has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing global cybersecurity challenges.
These collaborative efforts allow the country to stay at the forefront of cybersecurity innovation, continuously strengthening its defenses.
The Global Cybersecurity Index report praised Rwanda’s proactive stance in preventing and addressing cybersecurity threats, particularly highlighting its advancements in legal frameworks, technical infrastructure, and capacity-building initiatives.
Rwanda’s top-tier ranking underscores the country’s forward-thinking approach to digital security and its ongoing commitment to creating a safe, secure environment for its citizens and businesses alike.
To maintain its dominance in the high-end smartphone market, Apple said the company’s AI software will be used to improve Siri, as well as enhance features such as recognizing and identifying objects captured by the phone’s camera.
Apple Intelligence will be available as a free software update. The first set of Apple Intelligence features will be available in a test version from October as part of iOS 18.1.
The iPhone 16 lineup’s camera system includes a 48MP Fusion camera with a 2x Telephoto option, while a new Ultra Wide camera enables macro photography.
Company executives noted that the phone’s new A18 chip delivers a significant leap in performance and efficiency, allowing for demanding AAA games and providing a major boost in battery life.
A notable feature of the iPhone 16 is a customizable button that can control the camera, in a design similar to previous models.
Available in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus come in five colours: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.
The higher-end iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max are made from titanium and feature additional AI capabilities, such as offering suggestions on how to set up photo shoots more effectively and providing audio-editing features aimed at professional-level video production.
Prices for the iPhone 16 start at $799 (about RWF 1.06 million), while the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899 (about RWF 1.19 million). The devices are available in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options.
Apple will start accepting pre-orders for the new iPhones on Friday, September 13, and the devices will be available for purchase on September 20, 2024.
The unveiling of the new phones is expected to further intensify competition in the market, as rivals like South Korea’s Samsung and China’s Huawei continue to release products aimed at delivering powerful, personalized experiences to their users.
Huawei is expected to release its trifold phones in the coming days, with prices starting at more than $2,800. These devices will also come equipped with artificial intelligence features such as text translation and cloud-based content generation.
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In addition to the iPhone 16, Apple also unveiled new Apple Watches and AirPods with health-focused capabilities and hardware-design improvements.
Apple executives explained that the new watch can detect longer-term health conditions, such as sleep apnea, and can respond to emergencies, like a fall.
