Africa’s fast-growing artificial intelligence ecosystem will take centre stage in Johannesburg when Applied Machine Learning Days (AMLD) Africa returns with its most expansive edition to date, hosted at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The four-day gathering will bring together researchers, technologists, policymakers, entrepreneurs and students from across Africa and beyond, positioning Johannesburg as a focal point for debates shaping the future of AI on the continent. Organisers say the 2026 edition reflects both the maturation of Africa’s AI community and its rising influence in global technology discussions.
Applied Machine Learning Days Africa builds on a track record of high-profile contributors. Previous editions have featured leading global figures such as Yoshua Bengio, widely regarded as a pioneer of modern artificial intelligence, Karim Beguir, co-founder of InstaDeep, and senior executives from multinational groups including Oracle, IBM, OCP and Novartis.
The 2024 edition, held at USIU Africa in Nairobi, attracted more than 1,600 participants and showcased a blend of academic excellence and applied innovation, with speakers ranging from medical researchers to founders of African AI start-ups.
This year’s keynote line-up reflects the event’s international reach and local depth. Confirmed speakers include Priya Donti, recognised on the TIME AI 100 list; Tom Lawry, former Microsoft director and author on healthcare AI; Jade Abbott, chief technology officer at LelapaAI; Kabelo Makwane, country director at Google South Africa; and Samuel Segun, senior researcher at the Global Center on AI Governance.
They will be joined by senior academic and policy figures such as Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, rector of the United Nations University and UN under-secretary-general, Professor Benjamin Rosman, also featured in TIME’s AI 100, Dr Lily Paemka, deputy director of WAGMC, and Dr Mihir Patel, chief visionary officer at Ospitek Inc.
The programme is structured around thematic tracks that reflect Africa’s priorities and realities, including healthcare, sustainability, economic empowerment, cultural preservation, ethics and governance. Alongside keynote sessions, workshops and exhibitions will spotlight locally developed technologies and research with the potential to scale internationally.
A notable addition to the agenda is a dedicated opening segment, “Day 0 – Startups and Communities”, which will focus on grassroots innovation and emerging founders. Organisers say the initiative is designed to ensure that early-stage entrepreneurs and community-led AI projects are given visibility alongside more established players.
Beyond the main conference, AMLD Africa has evolved into a year-round movement aimed at decentralising access to AI education and dialogue. Its ambassador programme now spans more than 20 African countries and will support live broadcasts of the Johannesburg event across over 20 universities, engaging hundreds of students and academics through local hubs.
The organisation has also launched “Node by AMLD”, a network of student-led AI clubs across African universities. With chapters already operating in Zimbabwe, Benin, Nigeria and Madagascar, the initiative is intended to foster collaboration, experimentation and skills development at a local level.
Support for the 2026 edition comes from a mix of global technology firms, academic institutions and public bodies. Sponsors include Google and Schmidt Sciences as gold partners, with additional backing from the Swiss Embassy in South Africa, Digital Umuganda and the Masakhane Language Hub. Academic support is provided by École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne through its Excellence in Africa lab.
As African governments and businesses increasingly look to AI to address challenges ranging from healthcare access to economic inclusion, AMLD Africa’s organisers argue that the continent must shape its own technological future. The Johannesburg gathering, they say, reflects a belief that AI should be open, inclusive and rooted in local context, even as it engages with global markets.