Ramaphosa to meet Silicon Valley AI giants as South Africa eyes tech future

President Cyril Ramaphosa has announced plans to lead a delegation to Silicon Valley following the upcoming local government elections to engage with leaders in the artificial intelligence sector.

Speaking at a Black Wednesday commemoration lunch, the President emphasized the importance of understanding how AI functions and how South Africa can leverage the technology for national benefit.

After the elections, I will be leading a group of people from government, from universities, young people and all, and business, and will take along some of my comrades as well to the Silicon Valley, just to go and meet those big moguls of artificial intelligence, to get to understand exactly how it functions and how we can utilise it to our own benefit.

The proposed delegation is intended to include representatives from government, academia, the business sector, and youth groups. The initiative aims to bridge the country’s digital divide and explore how AI can be utilized in areas such as journalism, information analysis, and translation across South Africa’s 12 official languages.

While acknowledging the risks associated with the technology, the President expressed optimism regarding its potential to create employment opportunities and drive economic growth in the sector.