Decentralized Intelligence: A Web3 & AI Summit Report

Event Overview

The Decentralized Intelligence: A Web3 & AI Summit held on August 25-26, 2023, at the Civic Center in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, was a landmark event that brought together visionaries, experts, and enthusiasts from across Africa and the world to discuss the latest trends and developments in blockchain, Web3, and artificial intelligence (AI).

This summit was a collaborative effort between the Blockchain Nigeria User Group (BNUG) and the Celo Africa DAO, an initiative under the Celo Foundation. The event featured keynote speeches, panel discussions, and workshops led by experts in these fields attracting an overall attendance of over 5000 members both In-person and virtual.

Keynote Speakers

The summit was graced by illustrious keynote speakers who shared their insights and experiences with the eager audience:

1. Daniel Kimotho from the Celo Foundation

2. Khadijah Amusat from the Celo Africa DAO

3. Armand Gaetan Ngueti, GBA President

4. Dr. Babatunde Oghenobruche Obrimah, CEO of Fintech Association of Nigeria

5. Adeolu Fadele, Co-Founder

6. Falilat Jimoh, CEO of Fintech Nigeria

7. Dr. Charles Awuzie (Gemsbok, Transhuman, AlikoGPT)

8. Wole Odeleye from Microsoft

9. Boye Ademola from KPMG

Just to mention but a few Speakers

Panel Discussions

The summit hosted engaging panel discussions, providing diverse perspectives on pertinent issues:

1. Deepfakes & Content Providence: Experts delved into the world of Web3 technology solutions and their implications for tackling deepfakes and ensuring content integrity.

2. Has AI Successfully Hacked the Operating System of Human Civilization? Panelists explored the profound impact of AI on society, raising questions about its ethical and societal implications.

3. Leveraging AI and Innovative Technologies for Business Success: This discussion centred on strategies for integrating AI and innovative tech to drive business growth and success.

4. Crypto Bull Run Investment Strategies: A faceoff with crypto experts unveiled valuable insights into navigating the volatile world of cryptocurrency investments.

5. The Regulation of Blockchain and AI: Panelists and attendees discussed the critical need for well-defined regulations to harness the potential of blockchain and AI responsibly.

Workshops

In addition to keynote speeches and panel discussions, the summit featured a series of workshops aimed at equipping attendees with practical knowledge and skills:

1. Build with Celo Workshop by the Celo Africa DAO Team:

Attendees had the opportunity to learn and build different Decentralized Applications using Celo's blockchain technology.

1. Web3 Developer Workshop by DAST Team and Celo Africa DAO Team: Developers received hands-on experience in building end-to-end Web3 applications.

2. AI Prompt Workshop: This workshop delved into the intricacies of AI prompting and its applications.

3. Key Master Technical Workshop: Technical enthusiasts honed their skills in mastering the key aspects of decentralized intelligence and a dive into the Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

The summit culminated with the Celo X Bunzz Hackathon presentations from the top 11 teams. These projects were evaluated by a panel of expert judges from around the world. The top 5 winning teams were:

• Tiowobo by Hamid Adewuyi

• Chainwise by Joshua Aniekwe

• Solvre by Abdulqudus Ayoola

• Yoshka by Tolu Olugbesan

• Akwukwo by Emmanuel Ekete

• Key Takeaways

Success Metrics from the Event:

1. Over 5000 Attendees both In-person and virtual

2. Over 500 users were on-boarded on Celo

3. Over 20 Products were successfully built on top of Celo during the hackathon

4. 5 Products were rewarded as voted by the judges.

Key insights emerged from the summit:

Convergence of Blockchain and AI: The rapid convergence of blockchain and AI is poised to reshape the world.

African Leadership: Africa is uniquely positioned to lead the way in developing and adopting these transformative technologies.

Challenges Ahead: Addressing challenges such as regulation and responsible development is crucial to realizing the full potential of blockchain and AI.

Recommendations

The discussions at the summit led to several important recommendations:

Education and Training: There is an urgent need for more educational and training initiatives in blockchain and AI to prepare the workforce for the future.

Regulation: Governments must establish clear and adaptable regulatory frameworks to foster innovation and protect stakeholders in the blockchain and AI sectors.

Research and Development: Businesses should invest in research and development efforts to stay at the forefront of these rapidly evolving technologies.

Collaboration: The African community should unite and collaborate to shape the future of blockchain and AI on the continent, leveraging its unique strengths and opportunities.

Summary

In summary, the Decentralized Intelligence Summit: A Web3 & AI Summit was a resounding success, bringing together thought leaders, fostering knowledge exchange, and highlighting the immense potential of decentralized intelligence in Africa and beyond. The momentum generated at this summit promises to drive innovation and progress in the blockchain and AI sectors for years to come.

Photo dump from the event:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1HaUKqYD_FNOMhbyiqcvaN4yqDCoXXo4a?usp=sharing