We are excited to announce the release of our latest briefing note titled A Catalogue of Artificial Intelligence Tools for Use by South African Policymakers. This briefing note, co-authored by Dr Gray Manicom and Tinomutendayi Muzondidya, provides critical insights into how artificial intelligence (AI) can support public sector innovation in South Africa.

In recent years, AI has become a vital tool for governments worldwide. This catalogue was curated from the European Commission’s Public Sector Tech Watch (PSTW) dataset and tailored to the South African context, with the aim of guiding policymakers in the strategic deployment of AI. Our briefing note highlights categories such as government-to-citizen chatbots, recommender systems, adjudication tools, and AI for monitoring and automation.

With this resource, we seek to bridge the gap between the rapid advancement of AI technology and its practical application in South Africa’s public administration. We explore opportunities for AI tools to improve service delivery, enhance communication with citizens, and support the fight against fraud and corruption.

This briefing is designed to be a practical guide, identifying AI tools that can provide the most societal benefit. We encourage policymakers, researchers, and public sector innovators to engage with this document and explore the vast potential AI holds for South Africa.

For a deeper dive, download the briefing note and explore the searchable catalogue via the Policy Innovation Lab website. We look forward to your thoughts and feedback.

The briefing note can be accessed here.