Can AI Bridge SA's Inequality Gap? The Promise and Pitfalls

The Democratization Challenge

With 60% of SA schools lacking computer labs, Ambassador Ntlathi stressed that curriculum reforms are essential to make marginalized communities 'creators, not just recipients' of tech. Key disparities:

• Private vs public school STEM resources
• Urban vs rural internet access (only 22% LTE coverage in Eastern Cape)
• Gender gaps in tech enrollment (women = 18% of CS graduates)

AI for Social Good

Pilot projects showing promise:

Khayelitsha's AI clinic queues:

• Algorithm reduces wait times by 40%
• JHB's GBV prediction tools: Hotspot mapping lowers response times
• AgriTech in Limpopo: Machine learning boosts crop yields 25%

Policy Roadblocks

Ntlathi criticized 'innovation theater'—flashy summits without implementation. To scale solutions, he demands:

• Provincial tech hubs with local language support
• Tax incentives for AI social enterprises
• Community co-design of tools

'Without inclusion, AI becomes another inequality accelerant,' he warned.