Minister Mondli Gungubele Opens Africa’s largest AI Event at AI Expo Africa 2023

INTRODUCTION

Programme Director
Director of AI Expo Africa, Mr Nick Bradshaw
Captains of Industries and CEOs
Board of Directors of the South African Artificial Intelligence Associations
Head of State-Owned Companies
Foreign Guest
Leaders of AI Start-ups and ICT SMMEs

Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen

The famous American inventor and electrical engineer, Nikola Tesla, once remarked, and I quote:
“The desire that guides me in all I do is a desire to harness the forces of nature to the services of mankind.” close quote.
AI emergence has been profound to the extent that the Secretary General of the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), Madam Doreen Bogdan-Martin, observed that:
“2022 was a watershed year for artificial intelligence” and she further stated that “the world has “witnessed major advances in AI-powered robotics, quantum computing, and the emergence of generative AI tools moving human-like conversations into the mainstream.” close quote.
This statement demonstrates how AI has caught the attention of global and international actors in all spheres of engagement and collaboration.

Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen

At every stage of human development there has always been a technology that impacts the human lives in a fundamental way.

This kind of technologies are often referred to as “General-Purpose Technologies (GPTs). Some of the known GPTs are for example the discovery of a “wheel,” automobiles, aeroplanes, computers, etc, which have emerged over the centuries.

GPTs are constantly reshaping how we work, live and interact. In the current century, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a GPT together with other digital technologies such as the internet, Blockchain, and others.

GPTs such has AI have the potential to simultaneously create positive and negative externalities.

Already we note that more than 2.6 billion people in the world are not connected to the internet and communications networks as reported by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

Meanwhile, new business models and industries are quickly shifting towards the implementation and maturity of AI-driven products and services. We are at an inflection point in our trajectory of social and economic development.

Several matters at a global level related to AI need to be addressed substantively when confronting the emergence of this general-purpose technology, which amongst include:

Data as a meaningful developmental tool
Digital skills and Job Impacts (Employment)
Global Bodies / Formations and Approaches to AI
Ethical use of AI
AI Start-ups and New Emerging Business
The founder and Chairman of the World Economic Forum, Prof Klauss Schwabb, in his book titled “Shaping the future of 4IR” refers to data as the “new oil.” He argues that just like oil, reckless and negligent use of data can be catastrophic.

The value of Data in terms of the rapid advancement of AI have quadrupled in terms of value add and economic growth. It is projected that Big Data is going to drive the future economic growth of countries and regions especially through the adoption of AI.

Biases and discrimination in AI can result from the use of poor quality, flawed or inadequate data in ML models, or unintentionally through inference and proxies (for example, inferring gender by looking into purchasing activity data). This is a global matter that needs to be tackled head on.

 MAPPING OF AI SKILLS AND TALENTS

We must comprehend that generative AI is here and is used. ChatGPT is being used in sectors such as education and the legal fraternity. Now whilst teachers are against the use of ChatGPT by scholars, this is the future. We need to find ways of harnessing the power of data to improve learning and expand knowledge. However, we must also guard against its misuse and misinformation in distorting the power of the human brain.

Equally I read in the newspaper of Magistrates rebukes Lawyers over ChatGPT ‘bogus case’ – as the arguments on case file was sourced were not bogus cases. As such, we must acknowledge that as we use generative AI, it must not absolve us on ethical responsibility as members of the digital society.

Programme Director,

GLOBAL FORMATIONS AND REGIONAL APPORACHES

Documentation and blueprints on AI have emerged from different regions of the world. For instance, there is the Global Partnership in AI (GPAI) which involves US, France, Canada etc. There is OECD AI partnerships, ASEAN, SMART AFRICA, etc.

These countries have gathered to tackle AI from their regional and continental perspectives. These approaches have their own advantages and disadvantages and should be assessed based on inclusivity.

ETHICAL DIMENSIONS AND CONSIDERATIONS

The ethical dimensions on AI ranges in the different global bodies can be assessed to determine the most appropriate approach for us, for instance:

ITU calls for  – AI for Good
UNESCO calls for  – Ethical Use of AI
UN calls  – AI for development
OECD calls for  – AI Trustworthy and Responsible use.

In summation from the different approaches is four (4) aspects emerging:

Respect for Human Rights, Freedoms, and Dignity
Ensuring of Peace and Global Connected world
Protecting Diversity and Ensuring Inclusiveness
Protection of Environment and Climate change

As a country, we need to make a call based on our circumstances and challenges.

POLICY AND REGULATORY APPROACHES 

There are potential steps for policymakers to consider such as fully unlocking AI’s economic potential in Africa.

Governments taking a forward-thinking approach to adopting and deploying AI while ensuring that workers are equipped with a broad set of skills that enables them to adapt to an AI-driven economy, and that downside risks are mitigated.

Governments themselves must also procure and use AI tools in a manner that demonstrates thought leadership in harnessing AI for inclusive economic growth.

EMERGING AI START-UP AND BUSINESS MODELS
AI Business models are currently highly concentrated in just few countries and handful of global firms, with male dominance teams, without cultural diversity, characterising the patriarchal world we live in.

There is a need to advance the agenda of global diversity in the adoption of AI.

As governments and industry, we need to be deliberate in our support for our own indigenous start- ups and business models that would increase our competitiveness and innovation.

To get a sense of just how quickly the generative AI world in moving, we need only look at the number of new models, replacement of work and the amount of money saved or generated from use. Equally a number of jobs (highlighted below) are likely to see (or already seeing) AI disruption where AI can reduce the time to do tasks associated by at least 50%:

Accountants
Administration and Legal Assistants
Policy Analysts
Reporters and Journalists
Teachers
Tax preparers and Financial Analysts
Writers and Authors
Web Designers
Blockchain Engineers……And the list goes on.

We must not see this as humans replaced 100% but machine learning is assisting us to improve productivity.

In the list above, I was relieved to see that Politicians have not been replaced.

Programme Director, 

SOUTH AFRICA’s POSITION ON AI AS TOOL FOR DEVELOPMENT AND ADVANCEMENT 

The PC4IR Report recommended that South Africa should leverage Artificial Intelligence “to help improve energy efficiency. This can be achieved on an individual, municipal, and national level.”
We need to utilise AI to tackle some of the socio-economic challenges we are facing as a country.
The draft Data and Cloud Policy has been developed by the Department and will be tabled for approval by the Cabinet soon.
The Department has established the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa (AIISA) with the aim of creating AI Centres of Excellence aligned with the AI sector enhancement. The expansion of the centres of excellence is continuing as a government initiative.

GENERATIVE AI EXPLOSION

We are currently developing an AI National Plan which will address both the Generative and Applied AI. Applied AI impact on value-chain efficiencies in key multiple Sectors as well and government through the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa (AIISA) as government initiative.

WAY FORWARD

I am glad to see that there is sustainable engagement between government, industry, academia, and civil society. The creation of South Africa AI Association as a great step and is highly encouraged.  I am looking forward to receiving the report on the Africa AI Expo and wish you all success.  Thank you.

Minister Mondli Gungubele was appointed as the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies of the Republic of South Africa with effect from 6 March 2023. He previously served as Minister in the Presidency responsible for the Department of Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (DPME), the National Planning Commission (NPC), Statistics South Africa (StatsSA), the Government Communication Information System (GCIS) and the State Security Agency (SSA).

Minister Gungubele has extensive experience in local, provincial, and national government and believes in strategic planning and effective monitoring of systems to ensure that government is held accountable to deliver services to the people. He is a political activist who spent much of his youth fighting for a liberated and just South Africa which is united in diversity.

In his current position as the Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Gungubulele is the Executive Authority for the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) and the following entities:

• Broadband Infraco (BBI),
• Film and Publication Board (FPB),
• Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA),
• National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA),
• South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC),
• South African Post Office (SAPO),
• POSTBANK,
• SENTECH,
• State Information Technology Agency (SITA),
• Universal Service and Access Fund (USAF),
• Universal Service and Access Agency of South Africa (USAASA),
• ZADNA and
• Telkom

Minister Gungubele holds a B Com (Law) Degree and a National Diploma in Nursing with various certificate courses. He also serves as a member of the National Executive Committee and National Working Committee of the African National Congress as elected in December 2022.