Humanoid tutor manufacturing plant opens in Durban

A manufacturing plant and showroom for Iris, an AI-powered robot tutor, has been inaugurated at Durban's Dube TradePort, as part of its creator's ambition to expand the technology across South Africa's public schools. Thando Gumede, the brainchild behind Iris, aims to introduce the innovative teaching tool in approximately 23,000 educational institutions nationwide.

This move is seen as a testament to the power of innovation in improving educational outcomes, according to the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) deputy minister Dr. Nomalungelo Gina. Gina's testimony, relayed by Dr. Anitha Ramsuran, highlighted the government's role in fostering such technological advancements, stating that collaboration between the public and private sectors is pivotal in driving innovation.

Iris, developed by Gumede's company, BSG and Technologies, is a versatile educational robot designed to teach across various educational levels and languages. It employs sophisticated natural language processing, emotional recognition, and adaptive learning algorithms to facilitate personalized learning experiences. Unlike a replacement for teachers, Iris is designed to complement educators by offering additional support in teaching, personalized learning analysis, and classroom engagement.

The company's CEO, Hamish Erskine, expressed pride in the trade port's role in attracting and supporting such forward-thinking businesses by providing essential digital infrastructure. Gumede's journey to bring Iris to life was motivated by her experiences as a teacher, who was acutely aware of the overwhelming workload educators face.

This inspiration led her to develop Iris, aiming to alleviate some of the burdens on teachers and administrators while expanding access to quality education. Despite the challenges of funding, skepticism, and the need to self-develop the technology, Gumede's perseverance over seven years led to the successful deployment of Iris.

Her vision extends beyond individual classrooms, aiming to create 20,000 jobs and position South Africa as a producer of advanced technologies rather than just a consumer. The next steps involve refining the technology, broadening its adoption, and demonstrating its tangible benefits in real-world educational settings.