In the past decade, artificial intelligence has gradually infiltrated a number of countries and transformed various industries and sectors in the process. It comes as the planet shifts towards a digital future and adopts a brand-new way of living and working as a result of emerging technological advancements that have exploded into the mainstream.
In South Africa, a growing number of businesses have taken steps to fully understand artificial intelligence and tap into its wide-reaching benefits but is the country really ready for it? Continue reading to find out.
A shaky start
In recent years, artificial intelligence has slowly but surely made waves in the country, but progress has been slow. This is largely due to the fact that many residents are worried about a future where the digital phenomenon will eliminate a need for their jobs and, perhaps most importantly, worsen the already snowballing problem of income inequality in the region. In response to these concerns, it is clear more work must be done to encourage businesses and consumers in the country of the various benefits of welcoming artificial intelligence with open arms and experiencing the true capacity of today’s digital age for themselves. It must also be reiterated how much artificial intelligence can increase productivity, morale, and output in the workplace and lead to less opportunity for human error and lower stress levels in the long run with economic growth a key driving factor.
A greater focus on technology
It may be taking longer than what was originally anticipated for artificial intelligence to become commonplace in South Africa but with the past decade highlighting a greater focus on technology in the country, the future looks promising. In the late 2000s, for example, residents were able to play live casino online – where AI is used extensively – for the first time by visiting both land-based and online casinos and in the late 2010s, smartphone ownership in the country reached a record-breaking high of 91.2% and has continued to grow in the years since. This comes as consumers and businesses alike uncover the different ways in which it can streamline their lives both at home and at work and allow them to communicate internally and externally on a larger scale than what has ever been possible before.
A bright future
In the next decade, a number of trends directly related to emerging technology, and artificial intelligence in particular, are expected to emerge in South Africa. This includes the introduction of an adaptive workforce where both large and small organisations prioritise digital revolution and innovation by assessing their current needs and determining how technology can play a significant role in improving a number of daily operations. It is also expected to welcome a brand-new ecosystem where a personalised service is delivered to the vast majority of consumers in an attempt to provide greater customer service. In addition, artificial intelligence will, more than likely, continue to be integrated through the use of voice-activated searches, smart assistants, and social media monitoring before progressing to self-driving cars, disease mapping, and robots proliferating in manufacturing down the line.
If you are familiar with the growth and development of technology and artificial intelligence in recent years, you may also be familiar with its relatively slow uptake in the region of South Africa. It got off to a somewhat shaky start with residents weary of its potential to eliminate a need for their jobs and worsen income inequality in the country. With a greater focus on technology in recent years, however, mainly through the introduction of online casinos and smartphone ownership, consumers and businesses are expected to eventually welcome the digital trend with open arms.
