Ramaphosa to meet Silicon Valley AI giants as South Africa eyes tech future
Ramaphosa said he plans to lead a delegation to Silicon Valley after the local government elections.
President Cyril Ramaphosa is set to meet with Silicon Valley's leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies as South Africa seeks to harness the technology's potential for economic growth, innovation, and development. Speaking at the Black Wednesday commemoration lunch on Monday, Ramaphosa announced a delegation of government representatives, academics, business leaders, and young South Africans will travel to Silicon Valley after the local government elections on November 4.
The delegation aims to engage with top AI developers and understand how the technology can be applied to support South Africa's growth and development.
AI is rapidly transforming economies, workplaces, and communication worldwide, and Ramaphosa acknowledged that countries are grappling with its rapid advancement and growing influence on society, the economy, and public life. He emphasized that AI offers significant opportunities for South Africa, particularly in information processing, research, and communication sectors.
For instance, AI could assist journalists in analyzing large volumes of information, identifying trends, translating content, and improving access to information - crucial in South Africa's multilingual environment.
However, Ramaphosa also cautioned that AI presents risks, particularly the spread of false or manipulated content such as AI-generated images, recordings, and videos. He cited an example of a fabricated image of himself and Deputy President Paul Mashatile lying in a hospital ward that had been widely believed on social media. He stressed the importance of accurate and credible journalism in the face of increasingly sophisticated AI technology.
As South Africa heads into the local government elections, Ramaphosa warned that AI-generated disinformation could impact public discourse and confidence in democratic processes. He stressed that while technology may change information production and distribution, the importance of truth, accuracy, fairness, and accountability remains paramount.
In light of these concerns, Ramaphosa also condemned intimidation and harassment directed at journalists, emphasizing that they should be able to perform their duties without fear. He highlighted the upcoming launch of an in-app Election Centre on TikTok, developed in partnership with the Electoral Commission of South Africa, to help users access reliable information during the upcoming elections.
Written by urgent.news from The Citizen's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
