🎊 AI Spotlight: Joan Chepkwony 🎊

We’re excited to present Joan Chepkwony, AI Engineer & Founder at AI Sprouts Africa Group, as this week’s!

Let’s dive into our interview with Joan and see how she’s using AI to create change.

1. Share your AI origin story

 My journey into AI began with curiosity — and a bit of frustration. I’ve always loved how technology solves real problems, but most tools used in Africa were created elsewhere. That question — why aren’t more Africans building the tech we rely on? — pushed me to learn.

Through online courses and late nights of study, I discovered how AI could transform lives here at home — in agriculture, education, healthcare, and more. Seeing how few young Africans, especially girls, had access to this knowledge, I founded AI Sprouts Africa Group to make AI education more accessible.

We started with just 3 laptops, borrowed spaces, and a big vision. 

Watching students in rural areas build simple AI projects reminded me that innovation begins with access. Today, my mission is to help young Africans not just learn AI, but use it to shape their future and tell their stories through technology.

2. What three AI tools have been most game-changing for you?

 1️⃣ Teachable Machines

 2️⃣ Scratch with ML Extensions

 3️⃣ Python & TensorFlow

3. If you were just starting your AI journey today, where would you start?

 I’d begin with the real-world problems I care about — exploring AI as a way to imagine new possibilities and connect with others who share that vision. Learning should be hands-on and collaborative, rooted in purpose. 

From day one, I’d also focus on making knowledge inclusive, because AI’s true power lies not in complexity, but in how it enables people to shape their future with confidence and creativity.

4. Share the spotlight: Name 3+ women leading in AI we should all follow.

 ⭐ Jenny Kay Pollock

 ⭐ Heather Murray

 ⭐ Joan Chepkwony

5. As a woman in AI, what do you want our allies to know?

 True allyship means showing up — not just cheering from the sidelines. It’s about creating space where women don’t have to prove their worth twice, and where ideas are believed in. 

Our experiences make technology more compassionate and relevant. If you’re serious about being an ally, amplify women’s voices, challenge bias, and help build a future where talent isn’t limited by gender but unleashed by opportunity.

Want to be the next in our AI Spotlight? Fill out the AI Spotlight nomination form. It’s your chance to share your voice with the Women x AI community!