Tag: Ntsako Baloyi

South Africa’s mining industry has long been defined by what lies beneath the surface - vast mineral wealth that has shaped the country’s economy for more than a century. But as ore bodies become deeper, more complex and increasingly costly to access, the future of mining will no longer be determined by what we find underground alone. It will be defined by how intelligently we use the data above it.

For many South Africans, interacting with the government still involves repeating the same process over and over again. Whether citizens apply for an ID, access healthcare, navigate the justice system, or engage with social services, they often resubmit the same information. They also move between disconnected processes. Records do not always align. Each interaction can feel separate from the last.

Across South Africa, many citizens already experience seamless, data-driven services. They often encounter these services in the private sector. In these environments, organisations use data to create more connected and responsive interactions. As a result, data shapes how organisations deliver and improve services over time.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) skills revolution is no longer a future concept or speculative technology. Generative AI is here now. It is rapidly reshaping industries and rewriting the rules of competitiveness. In South Africa, generative AI holds immense potential. It can drive inclusive economic growth, boost productivity and spark entrepreneurial innovation.

In 2016 Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum reflected on the intersection of technology and humanity. Schwab expressed concern about how technology like smartphones could affect our compassion and connection with others, possibly depriving us of meaningful engagement.