Dr Nick Bradshaw and Roy Bannister, Co-founders of the AI Media Group and AI Expo Africa work with the Silicon Cape to  launch Silicon Cape AI Community of Practice (CoP)

Silicon Cape AI CoP

Hosting the first of what is hoped will be many Community of Practice (CoP) workshops, the Silicon Cape invited stakeholders from across the AI community, including representatives from academia, provincial and local government, business and media, to come together for the launch of an AI CoP for the Western Cape.

The event was held on 30th July at the InvestSA One-Stop-Shop in Cape Town and featured insights from Dr Nick Bradshaw, Co-founder of AI Expo Africa and Alderman James Vos of the City of Cape Town. It was facilitated by Kerry Petrie, an ex-Silicon Cape General Manager who is now an independent Learning Facilitator.

The aim of the AI CoP was to look at ways the Western Cape could embrace and unlock the business, social, investment and educational opportunities that are exploding in our region thanks to AI, and link to the activity of the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution at a national level.

The CoP’s vision statement is for a future where: The Western Cape leads AI innovation to drive social change and economic growth

The CoP also identified the following key outcome focus areas that the community would like to impact:

  1. Skills & Education
  2. Finance & Investment
  3. Policy & Legislation (with particular reference to a need for Data Liberation & Access)
  4. Messaging & Adoption (including the need for a shared vocabulary, positive stories and adoption use cases)
  5. Infrastructure

To take the AI CoP forward, Silicon Cape will convene workshops on each of the outcome areas – allowing community members to contribute where they feel they can add value. For the CoP to gain momentum, it would be helpful to find champions for each outcome area. Champions will have practical support from Silicon Cape to convene meetings. The full CoP aims to meet quarterly.

Dr Nick Bradshaw said, “We have been working on this with the Silicon Cape Team for some time and aligns with our own vision to make Cape Town and the Western Cape an AI Hub for investment and innovation both nationally and internationally. CoPs can effect change and with all the right people around the table we aim to deliver on the action items and outcomes derived. It was a great start but now the hard work begins”.

If you are interested in joining any of the Silicon Cape Community of Practice events and would like to participate in further discussions regarding the AI CoP or suggest a theme for the next CoP, please get in touch via: engage@siliconcape.com.

About AI Expo Africa 2019

Curated by AI Media Africa, AI Expo Africa 2019 is focusing on real world applications & trends driving the Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Data Science Economy in Africa.  AI Expo Africa is the largest Business focused AI Community conference and expo on the continent.  With 700+ delegates, 60+ speaker programme, 40+ exhibitor Expo Hall, allied to the unique Innovation Cafe showcasing the latest AI start-ups in the region, we deliver a truly integrated event experience.  Our speaking programme and workshops are aimed at CxOs, analysts and investors with the primary goal of educating business leaders about AI & Data Science applications solving Enterprise challenges TODAY as well as generating real business and learning opportunities for sponsors, speakers, buyers, suppliers & innovators alike.  We also have FREE student / young engineer workshops to foster grass roots job creation & skills development opportunities.  If you would like to join the event as a delegate or would like take up one of the exhibition, Innovation Cafe or speaking opportunities simply visit click on the links below. Learn more at www.aimediagroup.co.za

  • Register – Buy your ticket today via our secure ticket platform Quicket
  • Sponsor – Secure pride of place in the Expo Hall / Innovation Cafe
  • Speak – Submit a paper and join the prestigious speaking programme

For event information, please contact Sonja Arendse (Events Support Manager) at enquiries@aiexpoafrica.com.

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