With an initial investment of 60 million rand (US$3.3 million), the initiative seeks to address concerns about AI widening the global digital divide by empowering African nations with research, talent development, and innovative applications of AI.
The MIND Institute’s mission extends beyond academic pursuits. It will guide policy-making on AI ethics and governance in Africa, aiming to ensure the continent is not left behind in the global AI race. The institute, inaugurated on November 19, begins with 34 research fellows and plans to host academics from across Africa by 2025 through a pan-African fellowship program.
Professor Benjamin Rosman, renowned for his work in robotics and autonomous intelligence, will lead the institute. Supporting its vision, Wits will train at least 50 postgraduate students annually, from master’s to postdoctoral levels, fostering local expertise in a field poised to add US$1.5 trillion to Africa’s GDP by 2030.
The institute’s origins trace back to 2017, conceptualized by Wits Vice-Chancellor Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, the late Professor Barry Dwolatzky, and Dr. Solomon Assefa, formerly IBM Africa’s research director.
AI adoption is gaining momentum beyond South Africa. Morocco’s Mohammed VI Polytechnic University recently became Africa’s first to deploy ChatGPT Edu, a customized version of OpenAI’s chatbot for academic use. The platform supports personalized learning, grading automation, and advanced research functions, offering students and researchers access to cutting-edge AI tools.
