During the 2024 AWS Summit in Johannesburg, a large group of stakeholders convened at the Sandton Convention Center to delve into the latest trends in cloud computing. The event showcased various startups and corporations adapting their use of cloud computing to leverage its advancing capabilities.
One notable demonstration featured a generative AI-powered dictation product designed to assist the visually impaired by converting spoken words into written text. The presenter highlighted how this product, utilizing cloud-based technology, allows individuals with visual impairments to type and draw like anyone else.
At the keynote session, David Brown, the vice president of AWS compute and networking, showcased how mPharma, a health tech startup from Ghana, utilizes cloud computing to expand its inventory management solutions for hospitals. Brown emphasized the importance of cloud computing in enabling businesses to focus on utilizing data to create products without the burden of managing the underlying complexities.
Additionally, Capitec, South Africa’s largest bank, showcased its robocall-detection product deployed on AWS to help customers identify legitimate calls from potential fraudsters. This initiative has analyzed millions of calls to enhance customer safety and prevent fraud attempts.
The summit highlighted diverse cloud computing applications in Africa, ranging from improving healthcare accessibility to aiding individuals with disabilities and combating digital fraud. With AI driving innovation and empowering creators to develop new products, cloud computing plays a crucial role in providing the necessary computational power to bring these innovations to fruition.