Zambia is making headway in the global artificial intelligence (AI) research space. Meet Michelo Shalwindi, a Zambian engineer and geophysicist whose AI-driven research was recognized at the International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Networking 2025 (ICAIN-2025), held in the United Arab Emirates. The conference was organized by BITS Pilani, Dubai, in association with the Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad, and Universal Innovator.
Critical minerals are vital to the rapidly expanding global technology sector, yet supply may become constrained if new discoveries fail to keep pace with demand. Michelo’s research presents a promising alternative to some traditional mineral exploration methods. By applying neural networks—a branch of AI—he demonstrates how subsurface architectures that host mineral systems can be identified and interpreted more effectively, enhancing mineral exploration targeting. The findings will be published by Springer Nature, known for publishing top-tier research in science, tech, medicine and more.
ICAIN-2025 received over 1,450 paper submissions from researchers, academics, and industry professionals worldwide, with only 20% accepted after a rigorous peer-review process. The conference attracted contributions from more than 30 countries, underscoring its international reach and growing recognition within the global research community. It brought together distinguished speakers, authors, and delegates to discuss cutting-edge developments in artificial intelligence, networking technologies, and multidisciplinary applications, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange between academia and industry.
Dr. Shailee Choudhary (New Delhi Institute of Management, India) and Nazia Hussain (Big Academy, UAE) collaborated with Michelo on the research.