Zindi CEO Roots for ‘AI for All’ at New York Summit

NEW YORK, USA – Zindi Co-founder and CEO Celina Lee on May 7 called for greater efforts to democratize artificial intelligence as she addressed a high-level panel at the United Nations Headquarters during the 10th Multi-stakeholder Forum on Science, Technology and Innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals (STI Forum).

Speaking during the “AI Solutions and Breakthroughs” session, Lee joined global thought leaders in championing the use of artificial intelligence and inclusive innovation to tackle the world’s most urgent development challenges, particularly in Africa and other developing regions.

“We need to ensure that AI is designed for all – not just for those who already have the resources,” said Lee. Her comments underscored Zindi’s commitment to building data science capacity and delivering impact-driven AI solutions at scale.

The forum brought together key figures from academia, policy, and technology, including Robert Opp, Chief Digital Officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), who reinforced the significance of the UNDP’s partnership with Zindi.

“Looking at data availability in African ecosystems, the compute access challenge, the enabling policies, we’ve been pleased to work with Zindi,” said Opp, adding that empowering local communities through technology is central to achieving the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Lee was joined by other notable panelists including Vladimir Crnojević, Director of the BioSense Institute and a member of the UN Secretary-General’s Group of Ten High-level Representatives; Magnus Andersson, Associate Professor at Malmö University, Sweden; Jerry John Kponyo of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana; and Victoria Lee, Corporate Director at Fraser Health Authority and Board Member at CARE Canada.

The STI Forum, now in its tenth edition, is a key UN platform for promoting the development and deployment of science and technology to meet global goals. This year’s focus on artificial intelligence reflects growing international consensus on the transformative potential of AI in areas such as health, agriculture, climate resilience, and education.

Lee’s remarks add to a growing global dialogue about the need to bridge the digital divide and ensure equitable access to AI tools and knowledge. Founded in South Africa, Zindi hosts Africa’s largest community of data scientists and provides a platform for solving real-world problems through AI competitions and skills development programs.

The forum continues through the week, with additional panels exploring emerging technologies, cross-sector innovation, and science-based policy for sustainable development.

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