4– Paving a New Path: Towards an Intelligent Self-Driving Network for African Science
a conversation with Bashir Mohammed
In one of our recent discourse at the ‘Africa Deep Tech Community’, we welcomed Bashir Mohammed, a Senior Staff AI Research Architect at Intel. As a seasoned researcher and practitioner, Bashir has amassed a wealth of experience working on Artificial Intelligence at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He has been instrumental in the development of AI applications with a particular focus on intelligent networks, automatic control systems, Quantum communication networks, and data provenance in High-Performance Computing (HPC) and distributed systems.
Driving Innovation with AI
Bashir shared insightful details about his journey as an AI research architect focused on developing intelligent networks. His idea stems from the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) applications that can be compared to driving a car. With every move, the system learns, adapts and optimizes itself to ensure the most efficient journey possible. With the right technologies in place, we can leverage these complex networks to address challenges in network latency, traffic congestion, and delays in data access.
Adopting AI for Optimized Routing
By utilizing dynamic routing capabilities, powered by innovative AI algorithms, networks can be built to self-diagnose and self-optimize, thereby boosting performance to unprecedented levels. Bashir likens his vision to Google’s traffic system, where the shortest path is not always the most efficient route. Today, AI can optimize the path selection for data movement based on network conditions, to ensure timely delivery and enhanced user experience.
A Matter of Scale and Sustainability
In his example, The international scale of operations across the United States’ Department of Energy (DOE) establishes the complexity of implementing an AI-driven system. Understandably, driving these network advancements and maintaining a high quality of service across 40+ DOE labs and 140+ sites is no small feat. Bashir made it clear that such a project cannot be accomplished without a well-structured and self-adapting network.
Vision for Africa: The Intelligent Self-Driving Network
Bashir’s presentation was inspiring, primarily when he revealed his vision for an ‘Intelligent Self-Driving Network’ specifically tailored for Africa. He believes that Africa needs an autonomous, AI-driven network system that caters specifically to the challenges encountered in the continent’s diverse regions.
To achieve this, Bashir advocates a three-phase networking model that commences with Local Area Networks (LAN), progresses to Metropolitan Area Networks (MAN), and culminates in an autonomous, multifunctional Wide Area Network (WAN). Such a system would accommodate the diverse needs of different African regions, adapting to each region’s unique cultural, linguistic, and technical characteristics.
Conclusion: Bringing the Vision to Life
Bashir’s presentation invigorates the belief that AI can drive Africa’s network autonomy, and reduce dependencies while pushing the boundaries of technological innovation. The envisioned network, similar to the current Energy Science Network (ESnet) but tailored for Africa, is not an abstraction, but a vision that could soon become a reality.
A network of this magnitude would be a significant milestone for Africa’s digital landscape. It will transform the continent’s digital infrastructure, encouraging economic growth, enhancing connectivity, and opening new avenues for technological innovation.
Africa is primed for the next leap in technology, and an intelligent self-driving network could be the catalyst that propels the continent into a digitally empowered future.
Immediately following the talk, the Africa Deep Tech Community engaged in a conversation echoing Bashir’s sentiments and expressing excitement about the potential of AI to transform Africa’s networking landscape. Filled with enthusiasm and backed by the benefits that such an innovation can bring, the community looks forward to the impending reality of an intelligent self-driving network designed by Africa, for Africa.