South Africa launches Artificial Intelligence Industry Association

The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) is an industry body focused on promoting the advancement of responsible AI in South Africa by uniting practitioners across Commercial, Government, Academic, Startup and NGO sectors.

SAAIA seeks to encourage stakeholders in the adoption of responsible AI for the commercial and societal beneﬁt of the citizens of South Africa with a primary focus on economic growth, trade, investment, equality and inclusivity.

From hype to a global reality the SAAIA vision has been shaped by analysing the global and local landscape, identifying needs and filling the blanks with research. This has revealed both the challenges and opportunities AI and related smart technologies can bring to South Africa for both citizens and the wider economy. Our vision is evidenced based with responsible, human centric AI as its foundation.

South Africa launches Artificial Intelligence Industry Association

The SAAIA mission is to engage both individuals and organisations, novices and experts, those who are connected and not connected so no one is left behind. It is of vital importance that the opportunities Artificial Intelligence presents are possible and available for everyone to embrace. Therefore our mission is underpinned by ten key objectives.

Serve as the voice of the industry
Provide analysis & research to inform strategy & decision making
Help National, Provincial & City Governments with policy making
Unite buyers and suppliers to grow the economy
Connect SMMEs to funding to create new companies & jobs
Attract FDI to South Africa as the “4IR gateway” to Africa
Help African smart tech companies find markets abroad
Showcase the best of South African AI Innovation & Research
Promote debate on inclusion, ethics, regulation & standards
Share best practice & education resources for all

Dr Nick Bradshaw, the founder of SAAIA stated, “Our research has shown that AI and related automation technologies are currently impacting 120+ traditional industries globally AND creating new opportunities and challenges in timescale never seen before. The speed of this disruption is faster than any other industrial revolution that has gone before it. SAAIA seeks to encourage stakeholders in the adoption of responsible AI for the commercial and societal benefit of the citizens of South Africa with a primary focus on regulation, economic growth, trade, investment, fairness, equality and inclusivity. Our founding partners and Advisory Board members are drawn from across multiple domains and passionate about the adoption of responsible AI. Many of our Advisory Board members are community builders in their own right, tackling key issues like education, inclusion, training, regulation, ethics, policy and investment.”

SAAIA will be holding a launch event and roadshow series kicking off at the Tshwane University of Technology AI Institute Hub on the 19th July. Individual membership is free and members of SAAIA gain access to resources, insights and news throughout the year. Members also receive discounts to join the association’s annual event, AI Expo Africa, which this year is being held in Johannesburg 2-3 November at the Sandton Convention Centre.

Learn more and sign up today at https://saaiassociation.co.za/

About the AI Media Group

The AI Media Group administers SAAIA and is a South African based industry analysis, publishing & business events consultancy specialising 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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