AI Expo Africa Welcomes the Launch of Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa
Now entering its 6th year, the annual AI Expo Africa unites regional and international suppliers of the latest cutting edge 4IR technologies, from the biggest global brands to the smallest and newest local SMMEs. The core focus of the show are real world applications you can deploy today with an audience comprised of Enterprise and Government buyers, deployment & service providers, start-ups, educators, NGOs and ecosystem builders.
Background
In 2022, the AI Expo Africa event moved to its new home in Johannesburg in the Gauteng Province of South Africa after analysis by The AI Media Group in the form of the State of AI in Africa Report showed that it has fast become the “AI Tech Capital” of Africa with the highest concentration of 4IR jobs, suppliers and buyers in the surrounding regions of Johannesburg & Pretoria allied to the fact that South Africa is No.1 at attracting investment in the AI & Deep Tech sector.
AI Expo Africa 2022
Report author & AI Expo Africa founder Dr Nick Bradshaw stated, “The origins of our event and report were motivated from a lack of data about the regional / continental landscape for what is one of the fastest growing tech sectors globally. When we started our company back in 2018, there was literally no data about the region as a whole. Most local activity was either academic or developer community focused, with very little connection between these communities, industry practitioners and investors. What reports we could find were fragmented or limited to a single country or city. We felt it was a good time to launch AI Expo Africa and a new trade magazine (back in 2018) to tell this good news African story. Five years on, and allied to our new report, we re-located AI Expo Africa 2022 to the thriving heart of this new and growing industry sector. The news that the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa has now been launched in Johannesburg is a cheery on the cake and only strengthens the analysis we published earlier this year and our commitment to wider South Africa / Africa that the 4IR is a once in a generation opportunity and we must not get left behind.”
Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa
The Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa is the brainchild of the Department Of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT), the University of Johannesburg and the Tshwane University of Technology. It was founded upon the vision set out by the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) PC4IR, that reported its findings in 2019, one of which was the creation of an AI Institute for South Africa. The institute positions itself as an adjacent innovation engine for public and private sectors. It will generate knowledge and applications that will position South Africa as a competitive player in the global artificial intelligence (AI) space.
Honourable Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni – Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies at the launch event
AI is the most transformative tool of our era. Its applications are ubiquitous across all sectors, enhancing production and services like never before. 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.
The opening ceremony was attended by;
- His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa – President of the Republic of South Africa
- Honourable Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni – Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies
- Professor Tshilidzi Marwala – Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg
- Professor Tinyiko Maluleke – Vice-Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology
- Ms. Nonkqubela Jordan-Dyani – Acting Director-General: Department of Communications and Digitial Technologies
- Professor Letlhokwa Mpedi – Vice-Chancellor (Designate): University of Johannesburg
- Professor Tinyiko Maluleke – Vice-Chancellor of the Tshwane University of Technology
The two founding AI Hubs were represented by
- University of Johannesburg AI Hub – Professor Babu Paul – Director: Institute of Intelligent Systems & Professor Ajit Jaokar
- Tshwane University of Technology AI Hub – Doctor Vathi Papu-Zamxaka – Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation & Engagement
The following catalytic projects will be launched by the University of Johannesburg AI Hub
- AI for Mining Industry
- The Government Cloud
- AI Capacity Building for Public Servants
- AI Motor Industry Infrastructure Enhancement Programme
- AI Biometric System
- Criminal Justice System Development
- Modernising Public Services
- Coal Renewal Programme
- AI in Farming and Food Production
The following catalytic projects will be launched by the University of Tshwane University of Technology AI Hub
- 4IR in manufacturing (value chain)
- Healthcare
- Agriculture 5.0
About the AI Media Group
The AI Media Group is a South African based industry analysis, publishing & business events consultancy specializing in the 4IR / smart tech sector in Africa. They are curators of AI Expo Africa, the continent’s largest B2B/B2G Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) trade show and publishers of Synapse, the first quarterly trade magazine charting Africa’s 4IR innovation journey. The group also runs AI TV which hosts discussions on trends in AI and 4IR technologies with local, regional and global thought leaders.
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