TL;DR:
- Sama, a prominent AI company, is shifting its focus from content moderation to computer vision AI.
- The company plans to hire 2,100 Kenyan talents for the burgeoning BPO industry within two weeks.
- This aligns with Kenya’s goal of creating one million BPO jobs.
- Sama aims to collaborate with the Kenyan government and universities to promote computer vision AI education.
- The company’s transition is not related to an ongoing legal battle but a strategic decision.
- Sama is known for hiring young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, promoting gender equality.
Main AI News:
In a transformative move, Sama, a prominent player in the AI business landscape, is set to bring prosperity to Kenya by embarking on a significant hiring spree. Departing from its previous role in content moderation, the company is now focused on harnessing the power of computer vision and artificial intelligence (AI). This bold shift comes amid an ongoing legal battle with Meta moderators over wrongful termination claims.
Moses Kuria, Kenya’s trade cabinet secretary (CS), unveiled an ambitious plan for Sama – the recruitment of 2,100 Kenyan talents within the next two weeks. These recruits will be at the forefront of the burgeoning business process outsourcing (BPO) industry, specializing in computer vision AI. Their tasks will include critical assignments such as labeling images and videos, contributing to the advancement of machine learning algorithms.
Kuria’s announcement aligns with Kenya’s grand vision of creating one million BPO jobs, a mission that Sama has ardently supported since its entry into the Kenyan market in 2015. While an initial batch of 600 employees has already commenced their duties, an additional 1,500 individuals will soon join their ranks. This expansion will catapult Sama’s workforce from 3,400 to 5,500, with an entirely Kenyan leadership team at the helm.
During a recent media briefing, Evelyn Njiiri, legal counsel at Sama, hinted at a prospective collaboration between the company and the Kenyan government, emphasizing the need for public-private partnerships. Njiiri stated, “We also need to partner with the government, perhaps within the realm of universities, to instill knowledge of computer vision AI. There are numerous companies teaching AI from its fundamentals. We find ourselves at the grassroots level, but the entire supply chain must evolve with time. We need to be proactive rather than reactive.”
John Kipchumba Tanui, principal secretary (PS) of the State Department of ICT and the Digital Economy, praised Sama’s commitment to nurturing Kenyan talent in the AI sector, affirming the government’s dedication to transforming Kenya into a digital economy.
Sama’s strategic pivot towards computer vision AI marks a significant departure from its previous involvement in content moderation. According to Sama’s legal representative, who addressed the media at the company’s Nairobi offices, content moderation accounted for a mere 3% of Sama’s overall activities. Furthermore, Sama had terminated 184 content moderators who have since initiated legal proceedings, alleging unfair dismissal. The case, which reached the courts in June 2023, remains unresolved. It found Meta accountable for the moderators’ actions, as they were performing tasks on Meta’s behalf. However, Sama contended that Meta was its client and lacked the legal authority to act on Meta’s behalf, asserting that it had no further work for the dismissed moderators.
“We made the strategic decision to exit content moderation in favor of focusing on computer vision. When you identify your core strengths, it’s imperative to channel your efforts there,” Sama stated unequivocally. The company clarified that this move was not an attempt to mitigate the ongoing legal fallout but rather a calculated business decision. Sama has a track record of primarily employing young individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds, promoting gender equality in its workforce, mirroring the practices of esteemed companies like Safaricom. This pivotal transition has garnered widespread attention, with local political and youth leader Brian Mutiga underscoring the significance of extending such opportunities to the underprivileged. Mutiga emphatically stated, “It’s crucial that children of the less fortunate receive priority. We cannot perpetually witness the offspring of our leaders, who enjoy boundless opportunities, benefit disproportionately in the name of ‘Kenyan youth.’“
Conclusion:
Sama’s strategic shift towards computer vision AI and job creation in Kenya is a significant move that aligns with Kenya’s broader goal of expanding the BPO industry. The company’s collaboration with the government and focus on nurturing local talent highlights a commitment to transforming Kenya into a digital economy. This pivot not only addresses its legal challenges but also emphasizes Sama’s dedication to providing opportunities to underprivileged individuals and promoting gender equality in the workforce, which could have a positive impact on the local job market and the AI sector’s growth in Kenya.
