AI Appreciation Day 2025: Celebrating Sofonie Dala – A Trailblazer Using AI for Public Good
Sofonie Dala: A Visionary for Public Good
How One Woman Turned a Global Crisis into a Catalyst for Innovation
As we mark AI Appreciation Day on 16 July 2025, we turn the spotlight on an inspiring figure: Sofonie Dala, a young African innovator who is building critical skills to harness AI for the public good.
While the COVID-19 pandemic shut doors for many around the world, it opened new intellectual gateways for Sofonie. During lockdowns, she found herself exploring uncharted territories within her own mind. Isolated but undeterred, she began discovering her innate capacity for innovation and technology. What followed was nothing short of transformational.
🔍 Did You Know?
In 2022, Sofonie Dala developed two groundbreaking AI-powered chatbots using IBM Robotic Process Automation (RPA)—both designed to address critical social and environmental issues:
1. AI for Climate Action: Educating Women & Youth
Sofonie launched a climate awareness chatbot powered by IBM RPA. This interactive solution educates women and youth on how to reduce their carbon footprints by avoiding non-reusable plastic items.
Through integration with her digital platform, Talentos Multiplus, the chatbot opens doors to a variety of resources, from climate literacy tools to community action guides. It is a tool for empowerment—bridging knowledge gaps and fostering sustainable behavior in local communities.
2. Anti-Child Marriage & Abuse Prevention Chatbot
Her second innovation combined AI, RPA, and web automation technologies to create a chatbot focused on protecting children and women from early marriage, domestic violence, and abuse.
This bot acts as a confidential reporting tool and connects users with defenders and legal agents. By automating key processes, the solution ensures timely intervention, providing a lifeline for victims in vulnerable communities across Africa.
💡 A Hidden Milestone
In a lesser-known but historic feat, Sofonie became the first person in IBM history to discover how to link IBM RPA software to external websites—a major technical breakthrough. Although this innovation was met with admiration, it also reportedly sparked jealousy and resistance from some within IBM’s circles.
Yet, despite challenges, Sofonie pressed forward with courage and commitment. Her story is a powerful reminder that innovation often blooms in adversity—and that AI, when used ethically and creatively, can uplift communities and protect lives.
References
Dala, S. (2022, March). We are pleased to announce the launch of our chatbot solution. She Leads. https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2022/03/we-are-pleased-to-announce-launch-of.html?m=1
Dala, S. (2022, April). Wow! We are delighted to announce the second AI chatbot to fight child marriage and abuse. She Leads. https://she-leads.blogspot.com/2022/04/wow-we-are-delighted-to-announce-second.html?m=1
Dala, S. (2023, July). Happy Artificial Intelligence Day. IBM CFC Angola. https://ibm-cfc-angola.blogspot.com/2023/07/happy-artificial-intelligence.html?m=1
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