Season 14 Episode 13

Prof Vukosi Marivate on building AI in Africa and shaping global governance

12 March 2026 · 34:00 min

Professor Vukosi Marivate — Director of the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) and ABSA UP Chair of Data Science at the University of Pretoria — joins Business Talk to unpack how artificial intelligence is reshaping the global economy and why Africa must play… an active role in building and governing the technology. Recently appointed to the United Nations’ Independent International Scientific Panel on AI, Marivate explains the panel’s mission, the importance of evidence-based AI governance, and what it means for South Africa to have a seat at the global table as decisions about the future of AI are made.

The discussion also explores the growing AI ecosystem in South Africa, the challenge of ensuring African languages and data are represented in modern AI systems, and how universities and researchers are working to close the gap. From education and policy to innovation and responsible development, Marivate explains why building AI capability within Africa is essential to ensure the technology reflects local realities and benefits society as a whole. Show more