The question of who will shape Africa's AI future is crucial for South Africa, as the country faces challenges such as unemployment, unequal access to education and healthcare, and a growing need to prepare people for workplace changes. Artificial intelligence is advancing rapidly and could change how people work, learn, access healthcare, and understand the world. The Singularity Summit South Africa, held in Johannesburg on October 21-22, 2026, brought together futurists, researchers, technology experts, and innovators to discuss the future of AI.
Developing local expertise and intellectual property is essential for South Africa to influence the design, data usage, and problem-solving of AI technologies. A country that relies entirely on technologies developed elsewhere has limited influence over these decisions. Local knowledge and research are critical in building technology that works for more people, particularly in a country with diverse languages, uneven access to services, and communities with unique needs.
The Singularity Summit South Africa highlighted the importance of supporting people and organizations developing solutions with practical value. The South African AI Awards, represented by chairperson Atenkosi Ngubevana, recognized local innovation and emphasized the potential of AI to contribute to inclusive socio-economic prosperity. Initiatives such as digital platforms offering educational resources demonstrate how technology can help people engage with information in new ways.
However, the bigger test is whether these innovations are useful and accessible to the people they are intended to serve. Recognition is an important starting point, but promising ideas also need investment, customers, technical expertise, and opportunities to grow. Innovators must be able to move beyond the initial idea and build sustainable organizations around it.
Professor Benjamin Rosman of the MIND Institute emphasizes the importance of investing in people who will drive AI research. His experience with the Deep Learning Indaba revealed a significant interest in AI across Africa, even when it was not particularly visible. The Indaba has grown into a continental network, with locally organized IndabaX initiatives spanning 48 African countries.
Rosman believes that Africa must be more ambitious about its role in AI research, rather than assuming that fundamental scientific advances will happen elsewhere. He argues that African researchers should be supported in developing new ideas, building research institutions, and contributing to advances that influence global industry. This requires long-term investment and the freedom to pursue difficult questions.
Futurist David Roberts offered a striking prediction, arguing that artificial intelligence and robotics could eventually take over almost all human labor. This raises a difficult question for a country already struggling with unemployment. As AI continues to advance, South Africa must consider how to prepare its workforce for the potential consequences of automation and ensure that the benefits of AI are accessible to all.
Key points
- South Africa has the talent to shape AI, but investment and local research are crucial to determine who benefits from the technology.
- Developing local expertise and intellectual property is essential for South Africa to influence AI design and problem-solving.
- Africa must be more ambitious about its role in AI research, rather than relying on advances developed elsewhere.
