Interview with Vinnie Mxolisa – Inventor
This interview with Vinnie Mxolisa, inventor of an AI speech to text programme that decodes different South African accents shines a spotlight on a Generation Z South African innovator. His solution-based invention is the kind of innovation we predominantly see in the African continent.Vinnie will be part of our Generation Z Immersion Experience, taking place on the 15th June this year.
What is your background?
VM: My name is Vinnie Mxolisa. I am 24 years old and my background is in Computer Science & IT.
Tell me about what you are busy with right now.
VM: These days I am working on a transcription and coding software which is a speech to text type of software but it has a coding element which comes from the research side when you are doing the coding process. I am busy working on a prototype of that programme. I’m still running experiments because it includes a lot of machine learning and AI training models.
What are your plans for the next few years?
VM: I think the next coming years are mainly influenced by the current project. I am hoping to build it and turn it into a business concept and into a profitable business in the next three to four years hopefully.
What are your thoughts on entering the workforce versus entrepreneurship?
VM: I am doing both. I am in the workforce. I work as a research assistant and digital facilitator at the African Institute of Entrepreneurship so that’s my day job. The project is what I do in my free time but I hope to be doing this full time in the future.
What can you tell me is the biggest misconception about the youth today?
VM: That we are not hardworking enough or disciplined enough. It would be around that. Also patience. My generation has a very short attention span and we lack patience and we want things to happen as quickly as they can. It’s not all of us. It’s not everyone. A small percentage, not the entire generation.
What connection do you see between what you are doing and the corporate space?
VM: Those are the people I am planning to establish relationships with and the project will be suitable to them. One of the key things which I am doing with my project is making sure it can understand African accents and different accents from different parts of the world. I see my tool as a tool being used in meetings. You can record your meetings and the tool will give you notes of the meeting. Research institutes are also entities I would like to establish connections with.
By Faeeza Khan
Flux Trends is proud to announce the launch of the Flux Innovation Tour 2023: Meet the Solution-Based, Future Innovators Defining the New World Order.
Join us for this unique full-day tour that is designed to simultaneously shift your thinking and challenge your perceptions of the innovation process by – literally – introducing delegates to the future. Specifically, by introducing you to the young innovators, creatives and entrepreneurs building the future of South Africa, Africa, and the world.
CPD Points and level: 5 CPD POINTS at MPSA Level Designated Members
AMSA Designated Members can attend the Gen Z Immersion Experience and claim these CPD points as well.
Category: Non-Marketing and Marketing
CPD Approval Number: MA FT 23003
Certificate of completion to be loaded onto MarkEdonline to claim CPD points.
Image credit: Ono Kosuki
