SA drafts policy to regulate AI use

South Africa's Department of Communications & Digital Technologies is drafting a national policy on AI, following the lead of other countries and the EU, which are seeking to regulate the use of the technology. However, according to a written reply by Communications & Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi to a parliamentary question , embodying the policy in legislation is still a long way off, as it still has to go through a public consultation phase during which the government will gather input from industry, academia and civil society. ‘It is therefore not possible to provide a definitive date for introducing a comprehensive AI Safety and Equity Bill at this stage. Business Day reports that the final legislative approach will be shaped by the outcomes of the public consultation process and the finalisation of the national AI policy,’ Malatsi said. The Minister recognised, however, ‘that primary legislation may not be the only or most immediate tool required given the dynamic nature of AI’. He said the draft policy was structured around six strategic pillars: capacity and talent development; AI for inclusive growth and job creation; responsible governance; ethical and inclusive AI; cultural preservation and international integration; and human-centred development.