2. Artificial intelligence
2.3. Kenechukwu Mbanisi
Figure 1: Kenechukwu Mbanisi.
Source: Mbanisi (2024)
Downloadable teaching resource
Overview
Kenechukwu ('Kene') Mbanisi is a researcher and educator in robotics and AI (Artificial Intelligence).
Background
Mbanisi was born in Lagos, Nigeria. He obtained a B.Eng. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from Covenant University in Ota, Nigeria. He went on to be awarded a Ph.D. in Robotics Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in 2022. He is currently Assistant Professor of Robotics at Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, Massachusetts, USA.
Contributions
Mbanisi's work focuses on "human-centric" robotics and AI, building on his Ph.D. research for AI systems to enhance human capabilities in shared tasks such as co-driving (Olin College of Engineering, no date). His projects and publications are listed on kenembanisi.com (Mbanisi, 2024).
He also works to further equality and access in STEM in his role as educator and through community programs. He is coordinator of the Pan-African Robotics Competition (PARC) Engineers League supporting young African involvement in robotics, and instructor for the 'Cobots for Kids' program supporting disadvantaged students in manufacturing and robotics. Mbanisi also served on the Maths and Science for Sub-Saharan Africa (MS4SSA) project.
Watch
This short video from PARC Robotics (2024) shows some inspirational work at the 2024 Pan-African Robotics Competition. Alternatively, you can view the activity report from Pan-African Robotics Competition (2024).
Video 1: Activities at the 2024 Pan-African Robotics Competition with background music.
Video description
The video shows activities at the 2024 Pan-African Robotics Competition with background music. Alternatively, you can view the activity report from Pan-African Robotics Competition (2024).
Thinking further
Mbanisi emphasises the importance of social and human value in technology developments. Consider the possible benefits and risks of AI and related fields such as robotics.
Discussion
The OpenLearn article 'An expert’s take on AI' by Richards (2024) gives an overview of AI including ethical questions. He highlights concerns about the data used by AI, whether it is representative or brings in biases, as well as copyright dilemmas. He also notes the environmental costs of the energy in training and using AI.
Valdez and Cook (2024) more specifically discuss the challenges and opportunities of AI and robotics in urban settings. Their discussion raises the big question whether technologies can be "inherently good or bad" or whether this "depends on how we use them". What do you think?
Ethical questions around AI are also addressed by Timnit Gebru, a leading AI ethicist.
References and further reading
Mbanisi, K. (no date). Kenechukwu C. Mbanisi. Available at: https://kenembanisi.github.io (Accessed 20 January 2025)
Mbanisi, K. (2024). Kenechukwu Mbanisi. Available at: https://kenembanisi.com/ (Accessed 19 January 2025)
Olin College of Engineering (no date) Kenechukwu Mbanisi. Available at: https://www.olin.edu/bios/kenechukwu-mbanisi-0 (Accessed 19 January 2025)
Pan-African Robotics Competition (2024) PARC 2024 Activity Report. Available at: https://parcrobotics.org/media/attachments/2024/08/13/parc-2024-report.pdf (Accessed: 19 February 2025)
PARC Robotics (2024) 2024 Pan-African Robotics Competition: The future is now. 7 August. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8il4oshsEiQ (Accessed: 20 January 2025)
Richards, M. (2024) An expert’s take on AI. Available at: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/digital-computing/an-experts-take-on-ai (Accessed: 10 February 2025)
Valdez, M. and Cook, M. (2024) What are the challenges and opportunities of urban artificial intelligence and robotics? Available at: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/science-maths-technology/what-are-the-challenges-and-opportunities-urban-artificial-intelligence-and-robotics (Accessed: 10 February 2025)