By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Minister of Communication and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele says the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has put South Africa under pressure to utilise its maximum potential.
Gungubele was giving the keynote address at the National AI Summit at the Johannesburg Business School in Auckland Park.
The summit stems from a report of The Presidential Commission on the 4th Industrial revolution, PC4IR, which emphasised the need for a comprehensive approach in the adoption of artificial technology in the country.
The Presidential Commission on the 4th Industrial Revolution (PC4R) concluded a report, which was adopted by the cabinet on 26 November 2020.
Gungubele said the PC4R emphasises the need for a comprehensive report on the adoption of artificial intelligence technology (AI). The department has embarked on a process of concluding the draft National AI Plan, which approaches computing systems in a logical flow that will provide impetus for the adoption and provision of direction to all stakeholders.
Governments around the world are scrambling to find policy and governance responses in the face of rapid advances in AI.
“The role and potential of AI in assisting the world to get the United Nations’ Sustainable Development group back on track by 2030 is imperative and a responsibility of every nation of the world,” Gungubele said.
“Indeed, the era of generative AI is just beginning, and as a country and continent, we cannot and must not allow ourselves to be left behind. The explosion of AI as a greater technology tool has placed a responsibility on all of us to ensure that we realise its maximum innovative potential and make its use safe and ethical for all.
“During the 2024 World Economic Forum held in Switzerland, remarks were made that prospects of global security and peace have moved from Paris, New York and Brasil to Pretoria. It is with this appreciation of how the world views us that we believe that South Africa needs to be at the centre of advancing the guarding technology.
“It is for this reason that this summit has been convened for the government and the sector to initiate a policy regulatory framework to guide and leverage the advances in AI for human good. The economic benefit of AI has been well documented.”
Gungubele said an approach will be developed to ensure the fast adoption of emerging technologies.
“The economic benefit of the adoption of AI has been well documented, for example in a study conducted by the access partnership, it is projected that South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana and Kenya stand to benefit $ 136 billion on the adaptation and use of AI,” he added.