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South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework October 2024
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communications & digital technologies Department: Communications & Digital Technologies REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA 35 YEARS OF FREEDOM 2020 NDP
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# South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy Framework
(Towards the Development of South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy)
Send comments and inputs to: (DSondlo@dcdt.gov.za and MMashologu@dcdt.gov.za) by 17h00 on Friday, 29 November 2024.
There is no prescribed format for writing the inputs. It is however advised that the inputs should be brief.
For ease of analysis, it would be advisable for the comments to be sequenced in-line with the Framework document and its sub-topics (where possible).
# Table of Contents
- Introduction ... 1
- Background ... 1
- Overview of South Africa's Policy Making Life Cycle ... 2
- Rationale for Developing a National AI Policy for South Africa ... 3
- Problem Statement (The Futures Approach to the Development of National AI Policy) ... 4
5.1. Push of the Present ... 4 5.2. Pull of the Future ... 6 5.3. Weight of the Past ... 6 5.4. Analysis of Interactions ... 7 5.5. South Africa AI Policy Objectives ... 7 6. Strategic Pillars for the South Africa AI Policy ... 9 6.1. Talent Development / Capacity Development ... 9 6.2. Digital Infrastructure ... 9 6.3. Research, Development, and Innovation ... 9 6.4. Public Sector Implementation ... 9 6.5. Ethical AI Guidelines Development ... 10 6.6. Privacy and Data Protection ... 10 6.7. Safety and Security ... 10 6.8. Transparency and Explainability ... 10 6.9. Fairness and Mitigating Bias ... 11 7. Conclusion ... 12 8. References ... 13
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# 1. Introduction
The National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy Framework for South Africa (a first step in developing the National AI Policy) aims to promote the integration of Artificial Intelligence technologies to drive economic growth, enhance societal well-being, and position South Africa as a leader in AI innovation. Since the beginning of this decade, AI has rapidly advanced and has now been recognized as a general-purpose technology, like electricity or the internet, due to its wide-ranging impacts across various sectors and its potential to transform economies and societies.
By embracing AI's transformative potential, this framework seeks to address pressing national challenges and leverage opportunities across all sectors in our economy. The policy framework's primary objective is to strategically foster a robust AI ecosystem through coordinated efforts in research and development, talent cultivation, and infrastructure enhancement. This holistic approach ensures that AI serves as a catalyst for a digital society, digital economy, and digital inclusion, benefiting all South Africans.
# 2. Background