They say, “Siku njema huonekana asubuhi” (a good day is seen in the morning), but my morning had a different story to tell. Picture this. You rush to the office, eager to cover an exciting event, only to discover that mysteriously, your unlocked desk locked itself the day before. My laptop was ‘trapped’ inside a locked drawer, and of course, I didn’t have the key. To make things worse, my photographer colleague was tangled in Nairobi’s notorious traffic. At that moment, all I could think was, “Sasa nitafanya?” (What am I supposed to do now?). For one hour, I was in full panic mode, trying to figure things out, until my colleague finally came to the rescue and fixed my locker. At this point, I was so excited to finally depart for the event at Microsoft’s Nairobi office.
Nestled in the buzzing heart of Westlands, Nairobi, the Macheo Achievement Programme students, part of the Community Service Centre (CSC), had a fantastic experience at a workshop organized by Empowering Young Women (EYW). When I first heard about EYW, I assumed it was a day dedicated solely to empower the girl child. I couldn’t help but wonder how we can truly empower women without involving the men. EYW made it intentional and included the boy child, who dominated the Microsoft office that day.
Upon stepping in, we were greeted with the classic Kenyan hospitality, chai! I didn’t know it at the time, but that cup of tea was just the beginning. The real “tea” I got served was far more mind-blowing than anything I’ve ever tasted.
Here’s a burning question. Should we have taken a self-guided tour around Microsoft’s swanky offices, or was it better to let the experts show us around? Spoiler alert. We had the experts, and it was totally worth it. Microsoft’s team led the way, and let me tell you Maina, the tour was as cool as it sounds.
One place that totally blew my mind was the Microsoft Garage. It’s small, yes, but the ideas that come from that place? Mind-blowing to say the least. It’s like a creative explosion waiting to happen! Here, the Microsoft Imagine Cup, a program where students get to bring their wildest ideas to life, was highlighted. The Garage is where those ideas are nurtured, polished, and, if they’re lucky, transformed into something groundbreaking. After the tour, we gathered for the real learning part of the day. I mean, this was the moment I was waiting for. We dove deep into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and received mentorship from Microsoft’s experts. So much to process, but it was broken down for us.
Ali Marjan, a Microsoft Student Ambassador, kicked things off with a question: “What is AI?”The answers came flying in:
“AI is Artificial Intelligence!”
“It is software that mimics human intelligence!”
“ChatGPT!”
Marjan gave us all a thumbs up and said, “You’re all right!” She then explained AI is software designed to mimic human behavior. Think of AI as your brainy virtual assistant. Hello, ChatGPT! She also tossed in some incredible examples like Gemini, DeepSeek, and Pilot Plus. AI uses algorithms, which are like step-by-step instructions for solving problems. As an AI engineer myself, I get it. It’s all about being super precise and, of course, responsible when creating these technologies.
We also got into the million-dollar question; will AI take over our jobs? A teacher from the crowd asked, “Do you think AI will replace people in industries?” Ali Marjan answered thoughtfully, “Yes, AI is already replacing certain roles, like customer service where chatbots are taking over. But don’t panic! Humans are still needed to make sure AI runs smoothly. Think of AI as the sidekick; it still needs the hero!”
Then came the Generative AI session. Generative AI is like the wizard of tech, creating new things out of thin air, like text-to-photo generators (Sora) or text-to-song creators (Suno). Imagine telling AI, “Create a picture of a student in Kenya,” and BAM, it happens!
The Microsoft Garage is where creativity isn’t just encouraged; it’s celebrated. The philosophy is that “Great ideas can come from anywhere.” It’s like a magical playground for innovation. You go there with an idea, and the next thing you know, you’re working on something that could change the world.
Next, we dove into group mentorship sessions, where we split into smaller groups and had a chance to chat with some of Microsoft’s most inspiring people. This was a mentorship session and an opportunity for the students to ask thought-provoking questions. It sparked some deep discussions, but the best takeaway? “Try things, explore, and don’t be afraid to fail. The earlier you find your passion, the better you’ll thrive in your career.”
We also got some real wisdom about communication. “Effective communication is the key to connecting, learning, and collaborating,” said one of the mentors. It’s true, whether it’s talking to a peer or reaching out to a mentor, your ability to communicate can make or break an opportunity. And the classic quote that stuck with me: “A closed mouth never gets fed.” Know who to talk to, how to approach them, and always show genuine interest!
Then came the Internet of Things (IoT), and I was hooked. IoT is like magic. It connects devices to the internet and lets them talk to each other. So, a sensor on your phone could collect data and send it to the cloud, which analyzes it to predict issues or improve things. The students showed us how it all works, and it was like watching science fiction come to life!
At the end of the day, I was left with a sense of awe. Microsoft isn’t just about coding and big tech; it’s about nurturing creativity, pushing boundaries, and inspiring the next generation to dream big. From the Garage to mentorship and everything in between, we saw how technology can shape the future.
It wasn’t just about learning how AI or IoT works for the students who attended. It was about understanding the endless possibilities that tech offers. It was about realizing that the future isn’t just something you wait for, it’s something you create.
Article written by Teresa Nekesa
