by Alvyn Ulrish Shad Savrimuthu
Accenture Mauritius recently hosted the inaugural Techverse event, dedicated to Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), from June 11th to 13th, 2024. This landmark event underscored the significant advancements in AI, particularly generative systems like ChatGPT, which are designed to create new content, including text, images, and music, rather than merely mimicking human logic.
Dr. Riyad Ameerudden, Associate Director at Accenture Mauritius, highlighted the context and objectives of Techverse 2024 during his keynote address. The event aimed to unite Mauritius’ tech community to discuss the increasing relevance of Generative AI in today’s rapidly evolving world and to spark greater interest in its importance.
The event featured a variety of workshops on topics such as “Demystifying Generative AI” and “AI 4 Good,” enabling participants to delve into numerous AI-related subjects and engage with experts from Accenture Mauritius. Additionally, a significant roundtable discussion on “The Future in Tech” included notable professionals from both the private and public sectors. Among the participants were Nicholas Mckenzie, Engineering Lead at MCB; Didier Béphage, Chief Technology Officer at SD Worx; Dr. Maleika Mamode Khan, Dean of Faculty at the University of Mauritius; Vrigesh Futta, Executive Director of the Mauritius Emerging Technology Council; and Dr. Ameerudden himself.
Drawing from nearly two decades of experience in the technology industry, Dr. Ameerudden shared his insights on the increasingly human-centric nature of technology and the challenges of this transformation. He emphasised Accenture’s annual Tech Vision, which explores technological trends and their impact on business landscapes, focusing this year on “Human by Design.” According to Dr. Ameerudden, “We have reached an inflection point where technological evolution triggers an era of unprecedented human productivity and creativity. The latest technological trends show how AI unlocks what we call the next level of human potential.”
The event’s outcomes were overwhelmingly positive. Participants had the opportunity to network with like-minded professionals, gain new knowledge, and understand the importance of training and empowering the younger generation in the face of AI. Moreover, Mauritius has the potential to play a significant role in AI-readiness across Africa. Dr. Ameerudden aptly summarised this potential: “In Mauritius, many are simply users of technology, but we should also be among those who design it.”
Platform Africa caught up with Dr. Riyad Ameerudden for an interview.
Dr. Ameerudden explained the purpose and vision behind TechVerse, describing it as a gathering of professionals interested in technology, particularly software technology. He elaborated, “The idea behind TechVerse is to bring together this community to discuss and talk about the future of technology and the skills of tomorrow.” The event aimed to educate participants about new technologies, including Generative AI, and featured panel discussions with industry professionals and members of the Mauritius Emerging Technology Council. This provided a platform for sharing experiences and discussing the future of the Mauritian tech ecosystem.
