1. department of communications and digital technologies
A leader in enabling a connected and digitally transformed South Africa!
Role of Government and Public
Sector in Leveraging the
Convergence of AI and IoT
Technologies
Alfred “Ali” Mashishi
IT News Africa Com
23 May 2023

2. A leader in enabling a connected and digitally transformed South Africa! 1
CONTENTS
• INTRODUCTION
• UNDERSTANDING MAIN ADVANCES IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES FOCUS ON AI & IOT
• TRENDS IN ADOPTION OF AI AND IOT TECHNOLOGIES IN THE SA PUBLIC SECTOR
AT A GLANCE
• POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ADVANCING ADOPTION OF AI & IoT WITHIN SA PUBLIC
SECTOR
• MAJOR OBSTACLES TO THE ADOPTION AND APPLICATION OF EMERGING DIGITAL
TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR
• SOLUTION TO THE CHALLENGES
• WAY FORWARD

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INTRODUCTION
• AI and IoT are two technologies that are often
used together to create intelligent machines that
simulate smart behavior and support decision
making with little or no human interference.
• AI enhances IoT through smart decision making,
and IoT facilitates AI capability through data
exchange
• The convergence of AI and IoT can redefine the
way industries, businesses, and economies
function.
• AI can compound the benefits of IoT by adding
human-like awareness and decision-making to the
environment at hand to ultimately increase
efficiency and improve processes.

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TRENDS AND LANDSCAPE OF AI AND IoT
• Realizing the future and full potential of IoT devices will
require an investment in new technologies. The
convergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and IoT can
redefine the way industries, business, and economies
functions.
• Combining these two streams benefits the common
person and specialists alike. While IoT deals with devices
interacting using the internet, AI makes the devices learn
from their data and experience.
• A recent tech trends survey by SADA System states that
IoT and AI are the popular technologies currently in use
today wherein several businesses have already adopted
AI and IoT as part of their processes and products

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Understanding What IoT
can DO in Public Sector
• IoT is a network of devices rather than
people. IoT applications are normally
built from devices that sense real-world
conditions and then trigger actions to
respond in some way. E.g., a sensor that,
when activated, turns on some lights
• IoT is about using computer tools to
automate real-world processes, and like
all automation tasks, it's expected to
reduce the need for direct human
participation
• Although IoT is aimed at reducing human
work, it doesn't eliminate the need for
human judgments and decisions. That's
where AI can step in and improve the IoT
system significantly.

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Use of AI in Public
Sector
• AI is a class of applications that interpret
conditions and make decisions, similar to
the way people respond to their senses,
but without requiring direct human
intervention.
• AI is then essential to IoT.
• The question for IoT users and developers
isn't whether to use AI, but how far AI can
be taken.
• However, that depends on the complexity
and variability of task at hand.

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UNDERSTANDING THE ADVANCES
IN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES (AI &
IoT)
• Creating a society where various social and
economic challenges can be resolved by
incorporating the innovations of the 4th industrial
Revolution (e.g IoT, big data, Artificial intelligence
(AI), Robotics, and sharing economy) into every
industry and social life.
• Envisaged is a society of the future which new
values and services are created continuously,
making people’s lives more conformable and
sustainable.
• This is Society 5.0, a super-smart society. RSA will
take the lead to realize this ahead of the rest of the
world.
• Industry 4.0 refers to cyber-physical transformation
of manufacturing, which is promotion of connected
manufacturing and digital convergence between
industry, business and other processes.

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BIG DATA AS THE NEW OIL AND
ENABLER OF DIGITAL
TRANSFORMATION
Big Data collected by IoT will be converted into a
new type of intelligence by AI and will reach
every corner of society.
The movement and momentum towards Society
5.0 and Industry 4.0 is to have all people’s lives
being more comfortable and sustainable as
people are provided with only the products and
services in the amounts and at the time needed.
Fact 1: The need for abundance accumulated
real digital data is required. South Africa has an
environment rich in real and usable raw data for
use in the current market economy and
industry.
Fact 2: Technology cultivated environment from
various sectors such as social services,
automotive and manufacturing data

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CHANGING FACE OF THE ICT SECTOR

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WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL OF AI & IoT in Public Sector?
• IoT and AI are two of the hottest topics in tech discourse which is a good reason why government
technologists must understand them.
• The two technologies are very symbiotic, so it's critical to plan for how they can support each other
• The convergence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and IoT (Internet of Things) unlocks a huge potential for
businesses worldwide.
• While IoT sensors detect external information, replacing it with a signal that humans and machines can
distinguish, it’s AI that helps to build intelligent machines that learn from that data to support the decision-
making process with little or no human interference.
• The use of IoT is surging, and it’s predicted there could be up to 50 billion connected devices.
• IoT married with AI, this tide of new technology could usher in new opportunities, changing the way entire
industries operate.

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WHY AI AND IoT? Are they General Purpose Techs?

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ADOPTION RATE ito GLOBAL vs LOCAL

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POLICIES AND STRATEGIES ADVANCING AI AND IoT

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DEVELOPMENT OF
AIISA
APPROACH AND PLAN
• CENTRALISED THE OPERATION OF AIISA
WITHIN THE DCDT AS A PROGRAMME
• BUILD NETWORKS OF AI HUBS
SUPPORTING AIISA
• LINK ALL HUBS WITH CATALYTICAL
PROJECTS ALIGNED WITH AREAS OF
EXPERTISE AND EXCLUSIVE ECONOMIC
ZONES
• BUILD GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
• POLICY, STRATEGY, LEGISLATION AND
INVESTMENT DRIVE BY DCDT
• FUND THE LAUNCHES AND PROVIDE SEED
FUND

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IDENTIFIED KEY ECONOMIC SECTORS
AI Hub 1 – Digital Manufacturing
and Mining, Single Identity,
Criminal Justice System
Hub 2 – Automotive Industry and
Transportation and Mobility
Hub 3 – Media and Languages
Hub 4 – Farming and Agriculture
Hub 5 – Health and Genomics
Hub 6 – Water and Sanitation
Hub 7 – Energy Just Transition

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WAY FWD FOR AIISA
LAUNCH OF TUT AI HUB 2 ON 24 MARCH 2023
FINALISE THE OPERATIONALISATION OF AIISA AND MODALITY OF FUNCTIONING WITH AI
HUBS
AIISA ENGAGE SECTOR DEPARTMENTS FOR PROVE OF SOLUTION CONCEPT
BUILD PRIVATE SECTOR INVESTMENT MODEL AND PLAN
CAPACITATE AIISA ALONG THE DCDT RESTRUCTURING PROCESS
ESTABLISH UNIVEN AI HUB
ESTABLISH CUT AI HUB
COOPERATE WITH DUT AND UKZN

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ROLE OF GOVERNMENT IN ADOPTION OF TECHS
• Government as a convener through development of a Digital Transformation
overarching strategy that showcase high-level political commitment
• Government as financier through the provision of direct or indirect funds to
support the research, development and adoption of emerging technologies
• Government as direct user and co-developer through innovative procurement
practices (public-private partnerships and collaboration to build tailored
solutions
• Government as a regulator by the digital transformation reassessment of existing
policy frameworks

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AI & IoT USE CASES
Automotive Sector
[Sensors Industry]
Biotechnology
[Health Care]
Health
[Diagnostic]
Industrialization
Predictive Maintenance
Smart Farming and
Agro-Processing
AI-enabled
cybersecurity
systems

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CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED
• Governments face multiple challenges in how to incorporate these Emerging Technologies
for Public purposes and manifest in various ways
• Technical and Practical challenges - Availability of Quality Data
• Lack of common Standards ito IPV4 and IPV6 versions
• Resource and Capacity constraints – Competing National Interests
• Inadequate Investment and Funding
• Inadequate Digital Literacy and High-end Skills shortage in the Public Sector
• Institutional, Legal and Cultural barriers
• Regulatory Gaps and Insufficient Political and Institutional buy-in
• Absence of Common Standards and Suitable Legal Frameworks

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WHAT TO DO TO HAVE AI & IoT WITHIN THE PUBLIC SPACE
• Facilitate public and private investment in research and development to
spur innovation in AI IoT
• Foster accessible AI and IoT ecosystems with digital infrastructure and
mechanisms to share data and knowledge.
• Ensure a policy environment that will open the way to deployment of AI
and IoT systems.
• Co-operate across borders and sectors to progress on adoption of AI and
IoT.
• National policies are needed to promote AI and IoT systems throughout
the spheres of the State.

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