Mzansi launches first-ever AI Institute
The Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Hon Khumbudzo Ntshavheni in partnership with the Vice-chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, Professor Tshilidzi Marwala and the Vice-chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke officially launched the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa and the UJ and TUT Artificial Intelligence Hubs.
The prestigious opening of the institution was held at the Johannesburg Business School on Wednesday, November 30.
The launch of the AI Institute is realisation of one of the recommendations of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (PC4IR) and aims to place South Africa as a leading country in the world on digital technologies.
During the 2022/3 Budget Vote Speech, the Minister made a commitment that the AI Institute will be launched this financial year to mark a new era in the country’s digital transformation agenda.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the branch of computer sciences that emphasizes the development of intelligence machines, thinking and working like humans.
For example, speech recognition, problem-solving, learning and planning.
AI makes it possible for machines to learn from experience, adjust to new inputs and perform human-like tasks.
Most AI examples that you hear about today – from chess-playing computers to self-driving cars – rely heavily on deep learning and natural language processing.
According to the department, AI might be poised to take over roles occupied by people, but the technology has the potential to actually enhance industry and address unemployment. It presents South Africa with the opportunity to re-skill the labour force for a digital future, whereby working collaboratively with machines will be the norm.