NAIROBI, Kenya @iLabAfrica – Strathmore University, in partnership with the Embassy of Italy in Nairobi, hosted a high-level thought leadership forum themed “The Future of Intelligence” on 18 May 2026, bringing together researchers, policymakers, industry leaders, and students to examine the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence, quantum computing, and scientific discovery.
The event was addressed by Prof. Simone Severini, Distinguished Professor in Quantum Computing at the University of Bristol and Director of Quantum Technologies at Amazon Web Services (AWS), whose keynote explored the intersection of AI, quantum computing, and the future of scientific research. Prof. Severini noted that AI systems are increasingly capable of accelerating discovery alongside human researchers, stating that “machines are becoming co-scientists” in complex problem-solving environments.
Ambassador Vincenzo Del Monaco, Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya and Somalia and Permanent Representative to UNEP and UN-Habitat, attended the forum, reflecting the growing strategic importance of science and technology cooperation between Kenya and Italy.
Director of @iLabAfrica- Dr. Joseph Sevilla, opened the session by underscoring the need for continued Kenya-Italy collaboration in AI research and technology development. He cautioned against overreliance on AI systems in research and policy contexts, stressing the importance of critical human oversight as adoption accelerates across sectors.
Dr. Vincent Ogutu, Vice Chancellor of Strathmore University, reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to scientific integrity in an era of rapid AI integration, calling on academia to uphold evidence-based inquiry alongside the adoption of intelligent systems.
The event also had a panel discussion on “The State of AI in Kenyan Academia and Industry Applications” which examined Kenya’s growing AI landscape across research, governance, talent development, and infrastructure.
Florence Ogonjo, Research Fellow at CIPIT-Strathmore University, presented Kenya’s national AI Strategy and its objective of establishing the country as a regional centre for AI research, development, and commercialisation. She emphasised the importance of locally developed AI solutions, supported by dedicated research hubs, innovation programmes, and enabling policy frameworks suited to African contexts.
Dennis Kavogo, Group Head of Data and Artificial Intelligence at Jubilee Insurance, highlighted the practical requirements for effective AI deployment in the private sector, including governance structures, data quality, clear articulation of business value, and the development of internal technical capacity.
The panel also identified expanding opportunities for academia-industry collaboration in talent development and in strengthening Africa’s contribution to the global AI ecosystem.
This particular forum strengthened the institutional partnership between @iLabAfrica and the Italian Embassy, and built momentum toward the Global Data Science & Artificial Intelligence Summit (GDSAI) 2026. The summit set to take place in November will bring together researchers, innovators, policymakers, startups, and technology leaders to address emerging developments in AI, data science, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and responsible AI with a focus on positioning Africa as an active contributor to the global technology agenda.
Students attending the session expressed excitement about the opportunities AI and quantum technologies present for research, innovation, and career development, particularly within Africa’s growing digital economy
For more information about the Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (GDSAI) Summit 2026 visit >> Global Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Summit – @iLabAfrica
For more information about @iLabAfrica Visit www.ilabafrica.strathmore.edu