Technology

From the Stoics and Ancient Egypt to Rome and Artificial Intelligence (AI), perhaps the greatest wisdom lies in learning to distinguish appearance from reality

Building inclusive leadership pipelines is a business imperative, not a diversity exercise. South Africa’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) industries sit at the centre of economic growth, innovation, and competitiveness. They shape the technologies, systems, and infrastructure that drive business and society forward.

South Africa’s founder-led tech ecosystem is deeper than it has ever been, but it is still structurally thin at scale. The most recent data tells a clear story. The Southern African Venture Capital and Private Equity Association 2025 VC Industry Survey recorded R13.35 billion in active venture capital investments across 1,325 deals. ICT accounted for nearly two-thirds of total deal value.

A patient in an underserved community may begin their care at a local clinic. They may then receive a referral to a district hospital, have tests processed elsewhere, and later need specialist treatment or follow-up in another province. At every handover, the next care team needs enough context to understand what has already happened and what should happen next.

As fans take the action beyond the stands, Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) gives brands a way to become part of the game-day experience. We all love the vibe of game day – everyone in their team jerseys, bars and restaurants pumping, the braai sizzling, the socials going off. Everybody is in a good mood and discussing tactics like they’re Rassie’s best friend. By the time the players walk on the field, the game has already been going on for hours.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer something financial institutions are preparing for. It is already embedded in how decisions are made, how products are designed and how risk is managed. Whether through fraud detection, algorithmic trading, customer engagement or compliance monitoring, AI is steadily reshaping the financial services sector.

As industrial automation becomes increasingly software-driven and AI-enabled, the channel partner's role is undergoing a profound shift. The next generation of partners will be evaluated not on the products they sell, but on their ability to design, integrate, and support outcome-based solutions in complex, connected environments.

South African businesses are not in the habit of replacing their hardware every year, nor should they be. While IT has evolved into a much more critical component of the modern enterprise, most businesses still have to reconcile their infrastructure needs with the capital they can allocate to it.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be embraced, but deception should not be, and South African businesses should understand that Europe’s AI rules may apply even if they have no office in Europe.

As a society, we are rightly asking some important questions about the future of our world. Some of the most important questions relate to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it could impact our lives and livelihoods. They also concern whom and what we trust. Other important questions arise from the changing geopolitical order.