The South African Artificial Intelligence Association (SAAIA) aims to foster the adoption of responsible AI for the commercial and societal benefit of the citizens of South Africa. The association seeks to address critical aspects such as economic growth, trade, investment, fairness, equality, and inclusivity by uniting practitioners across commercial, government, academic, startup, and NGO sectors. Michalsons was a founding member in 2023, but from 1 June 2024 no one from Michalsons currently sits on the advisory board.
SAAIA aims to unite practitioners from various sectors to promote the adoption of responsible AI for the benefit of our citizens and the nation.
SAAIA Vision: Advancing responsible AI for economic growth and inclusivity
SAAIA envisions a future where responsible and human-centric AI technologies are pivotal in South Africa’s economic growth, trade, investment, equality, and inclusivity. Through comprehensive analysis of the global and local landscape, SAAIA has identified both the challenges and opportunities that AI and related smart technologies bring to South Africa. It’s vision is evidence-based, with a strong foundation in responsible AI practices.
Mission: Engaging all stakeholders for inclusive AI adoption
SAAIA’s mission is to engage individuals and organisations, regardless of their expertise or connectivity, ensuring that no one is left behind in embracing the opportunities presented by AI.
Objectives of the South African Artificial Intelligence Association
- Serving as an advocacy voice for the industry.
- Providing valuable analysis and research to inform strategic decision-making.
- Assisting national, provincial, and city governments in shaping AI policies.
- Facilitating collaboration between buyers and suppliers to stimulate economic growth.
- Connecting small and medium-sized enterprises with funding opportunities to establish new companies and create jobs.
- Attracting Foreign Direct Investment to South Africa, positioning it as the gateway to Africa’s Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR).
- Supporting African smart tech companies in finding international markets.
- Showcasing the best of South African AI innovation and research.
- Promoting meaningful debates on inclusion, ethics, regulation, and standards.
- Sharing best practices and educational resources for all stakeholders.
Insights from SAAIA’s founder
Dr Nick Bradshaw, SAAIA’s founder, emphasises that AI and automation technologies are reshaping over 120 traditional industries worldwide, creating unprecedented opportunities and challenges.
The speed of this disruption surpasses any previous industrial revolution. SAAIA aims to encourage the adoption of responsible AI to drive commercial and societal benefits for the citizens of South Africa, with a primary focus on regulation, economic growth, trade, investment, fairness, equality, and inclusivity.
SAAIA’s Advisory Board members, drawn from diverse domains, share a passion for responsible AI adoption and are active community builders addressing critical issues such as education, inclusion, training, regulation, ethics, policy, and investment.
Join SAAIA
Individual membership to SAAIA is free, granting you access to valuable resources, insights, and news throughout the year. Discover more and sign up.