Lab Engages with Western Cape Digital Transformation Plan
The Western Cape government invited the Lab to participate in a academic consultation on their Digital Transformation Plan 2.0.
Collaborating across continents on AI policy at the Technical University of Munich Think Tank in Germany
During a recent series of engagements with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) in Germany, the Policy Innovation Lab presented at a workshop hosted by the TUM Think Tank and engaged in mutual learning on policy with and for AI.
Presenting on global AI governance at FARI workshop in Belgium
James Haw recently represented the Policy Innovation Lab at a FARI-hosted workshop in Brussels, sharing lessons on AI in government and reflecting on the global need for people-centred, adaptive, and collaborative AI governance frameworks.
Supporting the Deep Learning IndabaX in Stellenbosch
Tino Muzondidya, Master’s student and Research Assistant at the Policy Innovation Lab, recently volunteered at Deep Learning IndabaX South Africa, deepening his expertise in ethical AI and data science while actively contributing to Africa’s dynamic machine learning community.
Lessons from civic tech review of citizen-generated data tool
Lessons from a civic tech review of our citizen-generated data tool reveal the ethical, financial, and design trade-offs in deploying AI for policymaking. Our WhatsApp chatbot captures feedback to inform smarter, more responsive governance in South Africa.
High-level dialogue on Digital Public Infrastructure convened in Johannesburg
Senior government officials and industry leaders from across Africa recently convened in Johannesburg to advance Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). The dialogue, hosted by the Presidency and supported by the Lab, focused on South Africa's ambitious Digital Transformation Roadmap, continental initiatives and a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to building inclusive DPI.
Supporting the Gates Foundation’s 20-year vision through AI-enabled policymaking
Bill Gates recently outlined the Gates Foundation’s priorities for the next two decades. In South Africa, the Policy Innovation Lab, a Foundation grantee, is applying AI to strengthen policymaking. This work helps governments respond more effectively to complex challenges, ultimately supporting more people on a path to opportunity and prosperity.
AI in Government: The Lab’s free webinar series for policymakers
Join us for a free, four-part webinar series on AI in government. From 2-5 June, explore AI basics, policy trends, ethics and real-world applications designed for policymakers and public sector professionals.
Policy Innovation Lab beta-tests platform for LLM-based tools
The Policy Innovation Lab recently got South Africa policymakers together to test our new platform which hosts a number of LLM-based tools for supporting policymaking.
Artificial General Intelligence is coming. Should we be afraid?
In this opinion piece, published by News24, Prof. Willem Fourie explains artificial general intelligence (AGI), outlines its capability levels, and provides thoughts on its meaning for society as AGI becomes a concrete reality.
Agentic AI is changing the rules faster than policymakers can write them
In this opinion piece by Prof Willem Fourie, recently published in the Daily Maverick, he argues that unlike traditional artificial intelligence (AI), agentic AI systems act more autonomously, adapt to new environments, and pursue complex, self-generated objectives, often in ways that are difficult to regulate.
CoRE strategic meeting in Addis Ababa advances Africa-Europe research collaboration
The Cluster of Research Excellence on the Politics of Sustainable Development recently met in Addis Ababa to review progress and plan for 2025. The initiative, involving eight African and European universities, focuses on doctoral training and policy-relevant research, with Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab contributing AI-driven policy analysis.
Briefing note released: AI in government
We have released a briefing note following the recent Digital Dialogue on AI in government. It captures key discussions on AI’s role in government, exploring its potential to improve public services, the risks involved and essential policy recommendations. Download now to learn how AI is reshaping how policy is made and implemented.
Strengthening policy advice in South Africa: Insights from the OECD
The Policy Innovation Lab hosted the OECD in a workshop with the Presidency to explore strengthening policy advice at the centre of government. The OECD’s work highlights innovative approaches from around the world, offering valuable insights into effective policy advisory systems.
Stargate, DeepSeek and the implications for South Africa
Dr. Gray Manicom was recently interviewed on radio about the recent developments of Chinese company DeepSeek and the American Stargate Project. These companies highlight geopolitical tensions regarding the development of AI technology, which have significant implications for South Africa.
Catalogue update – December 2024
At the end of 2024 we updated our catalogue of AI tools used by governments around the world. Here's what we found.
New training equips policymakers with digital tools for smarter governance
The Policy Innovation Lab equips policymakers with digital skills to enhance evidence-based governance. A recent training covered AI, modelling, and citizen-generated data, fostering ethical and responsible decision-making. Participants praised the sessions’ practical approach to advancing data-driven policy insights.
Policy Innovation Lab facilitates meeting with IDOS to boost evidence-based policymaking in South Africa
The Policy Innovation Lab recently hosted a multistakeholder workshop with IDOS, a Germany-based global think tank, to enhance South Africa's policy advisory capacity. They shared strategies for evidence-based policymaking and overcoming challenges. The goal is to build an effective, independent approach supporting inclusive and sustainable development.
Rethinking policymaking in the era of AI: Insights from Meta’s annual open innovation workshop
In October 2024, Prof. Willem Fourie participated in Meta’s Open Innovation AI Research Community Annual Workshop in London. He discussed the use of large language models to enhance policy advice in South Africa, addressing both their benefits and ethical challenges while emphasising the need for innovative policymaking approaches.
UN Summit of the Future adopts Global Digital Compact to shape AI and digital technologies
The recently-adopted Global Digital Compact marks the beginning of a new era of international cooperation on digital technologies and AI. Its success hinges on the active engagement of all stakeholders, including governments, private sector entities, civil society and international organisations.
Publication announcement: Briefing note on AI tools for South African policymakers
We are excited to announce the release of our latest briefing note 'A Catalogue of Artificial Intelligence Tools for Use by South African Policymakers', offering practical insights into AI's role in public sector innovation and service delivery.
Policy Innovation Lab engages with German experts on AI-driven public sector transformation
Prof. Willem Fourie participated in a workshop with key German institutions to explore AI in public administration, highlighting the Policy Innovation Lab’s work on strengthening policymaking through data science and AI tools.
SU’s Policy Lab helps build public sector trust in AI with online catalogue of tools
Stellenbosch University’s Policy Innovation Lab is building public sector trust in AI through a new online catalogue of AI tools. The newly-released searchable catalogue showcases AI applications relevant to South Africa, drawing from the European Union’s best practices to improve service delivery and administration and build public trust.
Dr Gray Manicom represents Lab at Meta LLM community meetup
In August, Meta hosted the Llama Community Meetup at their headquarters in Johannesburg, following the release of Meta’s latest open-source large language model, Llama 3.1. Dr Gray Manicom represented the Policy Innovation Lab at the meeting, and discusses some of the highlights.
New GSMA report highlights AI’s potential economic impact in Africa
The GSMA has released a new report highlighting AI's potential to boost Africa's economy by $2.9 trillion by 2030, significantly advancing the Sustainable Development Goals. Focusing on Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa, it analyzes over 90 use cases in agriculture, food security, energy, and climate action, and examines the maturity of AI ecosystems.
Lab roundtable brings together AI experts and policymakers
A recent roundtable meeting held in Stellenbosch by the Policy Innovation Lab brought together experts from various fields to discuss the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and governance to strengthen policymaking in South Africa.
Policy Innovation Lab releases briefing note on digital transformation in the public sector
The Policy Innovation Lab has released a briefing note proposing a framework for digital transformation in South Africa's public sector.
How AI is impacting policy processes and outcomes in Africa
A look at some of the challenges and opportunities AI presents in the African public sector.
How AI might solve protest issues
We look at recent protests in South Africa and how AI can be used to solve the protester's issues.
Data-fueled government
In the face of COVID-19 many governments sought integrated data solutions. Where to now?
