Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Blade Nzimande has called on South Africa’s universities to speed up the adoption of artificial intelligence, warning that while the country is not falling behind, it must act faster to ensure equitable access, ethical safeguards, and full integration into teaching and research.
“We’re not ahead of the curve, but we are not late either,” Nzimande said, noting that the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation’s 2022–2032 Decadal Plan identifies digital skills as a priority for building a strong digital economy.
The department has launched the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research, a network of nine universities and 12 research centers focused on machine learning, language technologies, and other AI fields, with plans to expand to all 26 public universities. Partnerships with IBM, the Association of University Vice-Chancellors, and the Africa Institute for Mathematical Sciences are driving digital skills training, while collaborations with Huawei and other private sector partners aim to ensure equitable AI access.
Nzimande said AI offers opportunities to strengthen African languages in science and academia and highlighted South Africa’s participation in UNESCO’s global AI ethics program to ensure the technology serves “positive human uses and social justice.” He warned against its weaponization, citing its misuse in military conflicts.
He acknowledged disparities between historically advantaged and disadvantaged institutions, pledging targeted interventions and capacity-building support through initiatives such as the University Capacity Development Programme.
The department is finalizing a National AI Strategy to identify priority development areas, while South Africa’s G20 presidency is being used to advocate for global commitments that prevent poorer nations from being left behind.
Nzimande also pointed to AI-driven projects in data analytics, adaptive cognitive systems, cybersecurity, speech and language technologies, and forensic identification systems that combine DNA testing with data matching to identify unclaimed bodies.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral issue. It’s central to economic development, social progress, and scientific advancement,” Nzimande said. “We must ensure that as we build capacity in AI, we do so inclusively, ethically, and with the goal of using technology for human development.”
