Cabinet has welcomed the launch of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute of South Africa at the Johannesburg Business School on Wednesday.

The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Institute is a collaboration between the DCDT, Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg.

Cabinet said that the first-of-its-kind institute ushers a new era in South Africa’s digital transformation efforts.

“It will stimulate economic growth, address unemployment and create a positive social impact. The AI Institute will expand the teaching of robotics and coding currently being offered in public schools,” Cabinet said.

Cabinet said that the institute is designed to ensure that government academia and industry work together in a unique partnership to apply their collective knowledge, expertise and experience to implement coordinated solutions to some of South Africa and Africa’s most critical and long-standing challenges, and to take the continent forward.

Government’s focus on digital skills includes creating platforms to support and promote the ability of youth, and small and medium enterprises, in particular start-ups, to develop digital content.

South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS)

Cabinet has also welcomed the successful conclusion of the country’s inaugural South Africa Green Hydrogen Summit (SAGHS) 2022 held in Cape Town this week.

The SAGHS 2022 showcased the nation’s offerings as a world-class green hydrogen production hub.

“In creating the environment for the green hydrogen sector to flourish, government has developed a Hydrogen SA Strategy that taps into our nation’s endowment of renewable energy and platinum, a catalyst in the hydrogen electrolysis process, to position South Africa as a global leader in this new market.

“The green hydrogen economy is part of our work under the ERRP to explore new sources of economic growth that have the potential to revolutionise our economy and create new jobs,” cabinet said.

New Thuthuzela Care Centre in Limpopo

Cabinet has also welcomed the opening of the Thuthuzela Care Centre in the Dilokong Hospital at Dilokong Village in Driekop, Limpopo.

The one-stop facility, which was opened last week Tuesday, offers services in support of victims of gender-based violence and femicide (GBVF) and sexual crimes.

The centre is the 62nd to be opened across the country and fulfils the commitment government made at the 2018 Presidential Summit Against GBVF to build more of such centres.

National Digital and Future Skills Conference

Cabinet has further welcomed the outcomes of the National Digital and Future Skills Conference held in Umhlanga, KwaZulu-Natal from 22 to 23 November 2022, to strengthen the nation’s advances in the area of digital and future skills in South Africa.

The conference was hosted by the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) in partnership with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

It aimed to, among others, strengthen partnerships in the area of digital and future skills in South Africa, create and stimulate interest in digital and future skills, and explore digital skills training opportunities available for youth presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

“The conference forged partnerships between government, business, civil society, international development organisations and youth organisations to take our nation forward into the digital era,” Cabinet said on Thursday.

Source: South African Government News Agency