The recently launched CUT AI Hub will focus on enhancing agricultural practices within South Africa's central region.

The Central University of Technology has partnered with the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DTCT) and the Free State Provincial Government to launch its hub within the Artificial Intelligence Institute of South Africa (AIISA). This Hub aims to leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) for transformative societal impacts, focusing on enhancing agricultural practices in South Africa's central region. The CUT AI Hub concept note closely aligns with CUT's comprehensive digital transformation strategy and roadmap, which will guide the operations of the CUT Hub of the AIISA.

"We firmly believe that Artificial Intelligence will be the driving force behind the transformation of teaching and learning, research and innovation, and the overall efficiency of our operations. As depicted in our vision for 2030, the CUT AI Hub aspires to be a leading centre for AI research, development, and application, significantly advancing smart agriculture value chain, smart manufacturing, natural language processing, and smart & sustainable tourism. Our high-level focus areas reflect our commitment to addressing societal challenges and creating sustainable solutions,” said Prof. Alfred Ngowi, CUT Deputy Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Engagement.

"The thematic areas of Smart Agriculture Value Chain, Smart Manufacturing, Natural Language Processing, and Smart and Sustainable Tourism are carefully chosen to align with the needs of our region and the nation. These areas will serve as the pillars upon which we build our research, development, and innovation endeavours,” he added.

Chief Director, Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, Mr Alfred Mashishi, added that all policies they create relating to AI are key in building a robust digital ecosystem between government, business and academia.

"As we carve out a response towards adopting AI, policy and regulation positions in South Africa and other provinces and local levels, there are three aspects we must understand when we endeavour to harness AI. One is that AI data governance and connectivity to support policymaking must be a process. Two, it is important to cooperate internationally to ensure that AI is an emerging trustworthy technology. Third, a common understanding of AI is built through sharing good practices and creating evidence of AI systems," said Mashishi.

The AIISA has launched the CUT AI Hub, which is the third hub to be launched by the institution. The Tshwane University of Technology and the University of Johannesburg have also launched their respective hubs. This new AI Hub is a part of CUT's twentieth-anniversary celebration, in which the university will provide technological solutions to the community.