South Africa explores AI regulation and plans to form Expert Advisory Council

At a national Artificial Intelligence (AI) summit organized by the Department of Communications, South Africa’s Minister of Communications, Mondli Gungubele, emphasized the importance of keeping pace with global AI advancements. He highlighted the significant economic opportunities that AI technology presents for the country.

The minister underlined the necessity for specific regulations to foster the development of open AI. These proposed regulations are aimed at shaping the creation of AI policies and programmes at both the national and continental levels.

Furthermore, the South African government is taking proactive steps to guide the evolution of AI within the country by proposing the formation of an AI Expert Advisory Council. This council’s purpose will be to provide recommendations on the formulation and execution of AI-related policies and regulations.

The task force that will spearhead these AI initiatives will be led by Professor Vukosi Marivate, who holds the position of Associate Professor of Computer Science and the “ABSA UP” Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria. In collaboration with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Professor Marivate will play a pivotal role in the task force’s operations.

Additionally, he will be involved in the selection process of specialists to serve on the AI Expert Advisory Council, ensuring that expert insights will shape the country’s approach to AI development and governance.

Vukosi Marivate is an expert in the field of Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), with a specialized focus on the convergence of these technologies with Natural Language Processing (NLP). His expertise lies in crafting methods that leverage ML and AI to process and understand human language, which is a critical aspect of advancing AI applications.

During the national Artificial Intelligence summit in South Africa, stakeholders engaged in comprehensive discussions about charting a path towards a “better AI future” for the country. Key topics included the development of supportive policies, the exploration of regulatory experiments, and the establishment of clear national expectations regarding the benefits and applications of AI.

Participants at the summit also deliberated on strategies to fully comprehend the technological capabilities of AI. They aimed to define the scope and implications of AI technology accurately and to identify ways to prevent or minimize any potential adverse effects it might have. These conversations are part of a broader effort to ensure that South Africa’s approach to AI is both informed and responsible, positioning the country to harness the technology’s advantages while safeguarding against its risks.

In his keynote speech at the summit, the Minister of Communications, Mondli Gungubele, stressed the crucial role and potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in helping the world achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by the 2030 deadline. He emphasized that understanding and leveraging AI is not just an opportunity but a vital obligation for every nation globally.

The Minister pointed out that the growth of AI on a global scale is being propelled by several key factors. These include the increasing availability of digitized data within the global economy, the unrestricted access to computational power, and the decreasing costs associated with data storage. He highlighted that these elements are instrumental in advancing AI technologies and that the African continent must acknowledge and capitalize on these drivers to foster its own AI growth.

In addition, the Minister referenced projections regarding the generative AI market, which is a segment of AI focused on creating new data, ideas, and content across various mediums such as text, imagery, audio, and synthetic data. The forecast suggests that by 2024, the generative AI market in Africa is expected to reach a valuation of approximately $0.89 billion. This anticipated growth underscores the potential economic impact of AI and the importance of positioning the continent to take full advantage of the opportunities presented by AI technologies.

After the conclusion of the Artificial Intelligence summit, Minister Mondli Gungubele expressed his anticipation for a well-defined strategy to utilize AI in tackling South Africa’s pressing economic and social issues. He sees AI as a pivotal tool that can contribute significantly to addressing various challenges faced by the country.

The surge in recognition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a global phenomenon, and Africa is no exception. This increasing prominence has sparked discussions around the potential risks and ethical considerations associated with AI, underscoring the urgency for regulatory frameworks. While several African nations, including Benin, Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Rwanda, Senegal, and Tunisia, have taken proactive steps by developing national AI strategies, formal regulations governing AI have yet to be established.

The absence of formal AI regulation highlights a gap that needs to be addressed to ensure that the deployment of AI technologies aligns with ethical standards, protects citizens’ rights, and promotes the responsible use of AI. The Minister’s comments reflect a commitment to advancing South Africa’s position in the AI landscape while acknowledging the broader continental context and the need for regulatory oversight.