Pelonomi Moiloa is a distinguished leader advancing artificial intelligence through an Africa-centered perspective. As co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of LeLapa AI, she directs a pioneering research and product laboratory committed to developing socially-grounded AI solutions that authentically address African contexts and needs. She earned undergraduate degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, followed by a Master's degree in Biomedical Engineering from Tohoku University in Japan where she specialized in deep learning applications for neurophysiology. Prior to establishing her venture, Moiloa developed her expertise as a Data Scientist and Team Lead at Nedbank, where she created machine learning solutions for fraud detection and market research initiatives.
Moiloa's groundbreaking work focuses on creating natural language processing technologies that serve historically marginalized African languages, with her Vulavula project addressing critical gaps in AI understanding of Zulu, Sotho, and Afrikaans spoken by approximately 25 million people. Her research challenges Western-centric paradigms in artificial intelligence by demonstrating how community-driven approaches yield more inclusive and effective technological solutions that reflect diverse cultural contexts. By developing robust NLP tools for African languages, she has created pathways for businesses to authentically engage with local populations through customer service applications that honor linguistic heritage. Her technical leadership ensures that African communities are not merely consumers of technology but active participants in shaping AI systems that serve their unique requirements.
Beyond technical contributions, Moiloa fosters community engagement through The Ungovernable NPC, where she serves as director of the Code Kamoso coding academy for girl teens, and as Trustee of the Ruth First Jeppe Memorial Trust. Her thought leadership has been recognized through prestigious appointments including the TIME 100 Most Influential People in AI 2023 and a Bloomberg Catalyst, while her TED presentations amplify the importance of culturally responsive AI development. Moiloa champions the Masakane initiative, building networks of over 1,000 researchers across 24 African countries to advance natural language processing research by Africans and for Africans. Looking forward, she is expanding LeLapa AI's mission to explore robotics applications that address African contexts, ensuring technological innovation remains firmly rooted in community needs and cultural wisdom.
