By TellZim Reporter
Former Deputy Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara has urged government and political parties in Zimbabwe to emulate foreign nationals and put aside political or personal differences and embrace technology for the development of the country.
Speaking during a public lecture at Great Zimbabwe University recently, Prof Mutambara urged political powers to unite for the development of the country giving example of how the United States of America President Donald Trump had to put aside his differences with Elon Musk and embraced Grok 4 in the US Defence Department.
“When Grok 4 came it was very interesting, it came out when Trump and Elon Musk were fighting for those that remember they were beefing and miffing and then Elon Musk produced Grok 4 then Trump and the Defence Department saw the power of Grok 4 and said forget Elon, forget your fight with Trump here is US$100 million take it and give us Grok 4 for the army. They forgot about their differences and the defence department gave Musk a US$100 million chalk.
“What are we doing in Zimbabwe? Please can you rise above your petty political differences, your petty personal differences and embrace technology and embrace good ideas to push the country forward. Learn from Elon Musk and Trump to push the country forward,” said Prof Mutambara.
Prof Mutambara also urged the country to take advantage of other key figures in technology development like Strive Masiiwa.
“Billionaire Strive Masiyiwa has come together with Verdia, to bring the GPUs into South Africa, Kenya, Ghana into Egypt not Zimbabwe. Tell us GZU why is your billionaire ignoring you, why don’t you reach out to your billionaire? Are you dramatizing the need to rise above any differences and embrace technology to drive this country to the Promised Land? Learn from Elon Musk and Trump,” he said.
He also urged those in technology to understand other concepts working with AI such as data analytics and blockchain.
“Do not embrace AI in isolation, it is part of an ecosystem of technologies, what we call transformative technologies. AI sits on digital, without digital and data there is no AI. so you need to make sure you understand the role of mobile telephoning, digital transformation, big data analytics, cyber security, blockchain. As you pursue AI make sure you start block chain, it is a revolutionary technology on its own. Understand AI as part of an ecosystem,” said Prof Mutambara.
Prof Mutambara launched his book titled ‘Deploying Artificial Intelligence to Achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals: Enablers, Drivers and Strategic Framework’ which focuses on the need to deploy Artificial Intelligence to achieve the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at Charles Austin Theatre in Masvingo on Monday.
