AI Can Design Cities, but Can It Understand What Matters to People? 10 Ways to Keep Humans in Control
Urban design depends heavily on human judgment and field-based understanding.
machine learning
Millions of Farmers in Africa’s Great Lakes Region Face Rising Temperatures. Study Predicts How Crop Disease and Pests Could Spread
Figuring out how climate change will cause plant disease and pests to spread across Africa’s Great Lakes farms is critical for future food supplies.
How Companies Can Manage Dark Data Better
Stored data contributes to greenhouse gas emissions by needing power for servers and cooling systems.
African Mining Week Unveils 2025 Program, Connecting Investors to African Projects
The African Mining Week (AMW) conference and exhibition has officially launched its 2025 program, unveiling key topics and lucrative opportunities across Africa's mining value chain. The three-day program will foster collaboration on investment, value addition, local content development and industrialization. Bringing together African regulators, key mining stakeholders and global partners, AMW serves as a critical platform for shaping the future of African mining.
Download the program here: https://apo-opa.co/42kb940
Scheduled for October 1–3 in Cape Town, AMW takes place under the theme, From Extraction to Beneficiation: Unlocking Africa's Mineral Wealth. The event is co-located with the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies conference, providing attendees a strategic opportunity to gain insight into opportunities across both the energy and mining sectors in Africa.
The AMW program features the Ministerial Forum, where African and global mining ministers will connect to showcase investment opportunities, discuss regulatory frameworks and highlight efforts to drive local beneficiation and value addition. Through policy revitalization and strategic partnerships, African markets are increasingly positioning themselves as attractive destinations for global investors.
A series of Country Spotlights will offer a deep dive into Africa's diverse mineral wealth, featuring insights into Botswana and Angola's diamond resources, Zambia's copper reserves and the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt market. Spotlights will also examine the latest developments within South Africa's platinum group metals, Zimbabwe's lithium, Mali's uranium and Malawi and Tanzania's rare earths industries.
AMW's Critical Minerals Track will explore emerging trends and opportunities within a sector that is crucial to the global energy transition. With Africa holding 30% of the world's critical minerals, the continent is attracting substantial interest from international players eager to unlock its vast potential. AMW will spotlight Africa's growing role in mineral diplomacy, as countries strengthen investment ties and infrastructure collaboration with global partners, including China, the U.S., Canada, the UAE, Australia and the European Union. Meanwhile, AMW Roundtables will facilitate deal signings and enhanced cooperation among African stakeholders and international investors.
Innovation will take center stage at the Technology Forum, set to explore the transformative role of digital technologies, AI and machine learning in modernizing mineral exploration and production. African markets are increasingly leveraging advanced tools to accelerate exploration, with companies such as Botswana Diamonds utilizing AI-driven solutions to diversify beyond traditional diamond mining. Meanwhile, KoBold Metals is using AI to unlock new copper discoveries in Zambia, supporting the country's ambition to ramp up production to 3.1 million tons annually by 2031.
The Investment Track will bring together global investors, including public financiers and international development finance institutions to explore funding opportunities across the mining value chain. Discussions will focus on optimizing financial mechanisms, such as loans, private placements and equity funding, to maximize capital flows to Africa's mining sector. Additionally, the Junior Miners Forum will provide a platform for small-scale mining firms to pitch their projects to investors, potential partners and industry experts, enhancing their contributions to the sector's growth. Join AMW 2025 today and be part of the discussion on Africa's mining future.
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com. To download the working program, please visit www.African-MiningWeek.com
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
Home Affairs Minister issues stern warning to crooked officials
Home Affairs Minister issues stern warning to crooked officials
Home Affairs Minister Dr Leon Schreiber has warned crooked officials that the department will leave no stone unturned to rid its ranks of corruption.
Schreiber said officials involved in corrupt activities will face the full might of the law.
“Our message also makes it clear that we apply the rule of law without fear or favour,” Schreiber said.
Speaking at the launch of the Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum (BMIACF) in Pretoria on Tuesday, Schreiber said cooperation amongst the relevant authorities is making an impact on efforts to restore the image of the Department of Home Affairs and the Border Management Authority (BMA).
“We are also committed to the kind of systems reform that will close the space for discretion, which enables fraud and corruption in the first place,” Schreiber said.
One of the fundamental pillars of digital transformation, the Minister said, is the use of technology to help prevent and detect corruption, and uproot corrupt networks altogether.
“But the reality is that, for as long as we have paper-based visa documents, for as long as we use manual, paper-based processes, and for as long as decisions are wide-open to human discretion and interference, the space for corruption will continue to exist.
“Paper visas are being replaced by an Electronic Travel Authorisation featuring Artificial Intelligence and machine learning-based adjudication. Paper documents are being replaced by secure digital documents, including the digital ID system announced by the President during the State of the Nation Address.
“The green ID book will be phased out and replaced by the far more secure smart ID and digital ID, and we are automating entry-and-exit at all South African ports-of-entry,” the Minister said.
Schreiber is confident that the systems reforms will deliver a "systems revolution" in the border management and immigration environment.
“No more papers that can go missing or be manipulated. No more photo-swopping on green ID books. No more bribing an immigration officer to manipulate an outcome, or to gain entry into the country illegally because you cannot bribe a computer and an electronic gate,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said the Department of Home Affairs is concluding the appointment of a permanent Deputy Director-General for Human Resources.
“It is my expectation that this person will further intensify our quest to rid Home Affairs of the bad apples,” he said.
Speaking at the launch of the BMIACF, the National Director of Public Prosecutions (NDPP), Advocate Shamila Batohi, said officials must urgently bring an end to the phenomenon of South Africa being used as a transit route for criminal activities.
“We need law enforcement agencies that serve the public and put an end to these criminal activities.”
Batohi said a lot has been done over the period of five years and that more is still to be done to deal with crime and corruption.
Advocate Andy Mothibi, the Head of the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), said the launch of Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum is a strategic intervention in the fight against crime and corruption.
“The launch of Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum is a strategic intervention to foster collaboration between various stakeholders, who bring with them their respective mandates and expertise, which will speed up investigations of corruption allegations."
Mothibi expressed the SUI's support for the BMIACF.
The BMIACF focuses on immigration and border management, which is vulnerable to fraud and corruption.
The BMIACF has a steering committee coordinating all the work and managing stakeholders' progress. It is supported by subcommittees that focus on specialist areas such as prevention, detection, investigation and implementation of consequence management. – SAnews.gov.za
Edwin
Tue, 03/25/2025 - 14:30
187 views
SA positioned to navigate challenging geopolitical situation – WEF President
SA positioned to navigate challenging geopolitical situation – WEF President
Amidst a fragmented geopolitical landscape, the President and CEO of the World Economic Forum, Børge Brende, has expressed support for South Africa’s Group 20 (G20) Presidency.
“In such a polarised, fragmented world as [the] backdrop of this G20 leadership, I think South Africa is especially well positioned to handle this very complicated geopolitical situation,” Brende said on Tuesday.
Brende was addressing the Business 20 (B20) -- the official dialogue forum for domestic and international business communities.
In his address, he stated that South Africa has extensive experience in managing competition and its history.
“It’s not an easy G20 to take on but that’s a reality with the geopolitical backdrop that [it] is happening against,” Brende said.
He said the current geopolitical situation is a priority for everyone, making the global business voice more crucial than ever.
“The last weeks have shown us we have to fasten our seat belts and even getting people that don’t agree [with us] in the same room is not almost an achievement. I saw that in Davos this year when people don’t agree [with you] they don’t want to even discuss [matters]. But to break impasses at least, you must start with the dialogue and sit in the same room and say, ‘this is important to me’.
“Sherpas can then try to find some solutions, because the solutions are so incredibly important…,” he said.
With South Africa set to host the G20 Leaders' Summit later this year, Cape Town hosted the two-day B20, which began on Monday.
Western Cape Premier Alan Winde previously said that the province and Cape Town look forward to welcoming the world once again.
READ | Cape Town to host B20 meeting
The gathering focused on the theme “Inclusive Growth and Prosperity through Global Participation.”
Brende said the private sector has a key role to play in mobilising investment, driving innovation, and finding solutions to shared challenges.
“That means that if you want to get anything done, you also must work with the business sector. That’s the only way to also get investments and fresh money,” he explained.
He described Africa, with its fast-growing economies and young workforce, as poised to shape the future.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) alone has the potential to unlock $450 billion in economic gains over the next decade.
The World Economic Forum, he said, has a long-fostered collaboration between business and government, and is committed to supporting this effort through initiatives such as the First Movers Coalition that pushes for green technologies.
“Now is the time for the B20 and G20 to work together to accelerate sustainable growth, strengthen global trade, and ensure that economic progress benefits all.
“South Africa’s long-standing commitment to cooperation serves as a powerful example of what is possible when we find common ground.”
Brende also touched on the key challenges including climate change, cybercrime, and the need for global consensus on issues like carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and cybersecurity.
Despite the geopolitical tensions, Brende stated that the global economy is expected to grow by over 3% this year.
“Trade is expected to grow by 3%, however, the growth we are seeing in trade is not coming from traditional manufacturing goods. Digital trade and services are projecting significant growth. The biggest game changers over the next few years will be new technologies.”
He said the technological advancements, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning, could boost productivity by 10% in a decade.
– SAnews.gov.za
Gabisile
Wed, 02/26/2025 - 13:58
16 views
Vodacom Ranked Africa’s Top Employer for Second Consecutive Year
Vodacom Group (www.Vodacom.com) has been named Africa's number one employer by the Top Employers Institute for the second year running. This prestigious certification and first place ranking have also been awarded to Vodacom Group, Vodacom South Africa, Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania and Safaricom Kenya.
The Top Employers Institute Companies bestows this accolade to companies based on their performance in key HR domains such as people strategy, work environment, talent acquisition, learning, and well-being.
“We are incredibly proud to be certified as the Top Employer in Africa for the second year in a row. We believe that the well-being of our employees contributes directly to our ability to fulfil our purpose of connecting for a better future. By continually enhancing our Employee Value Proposition through empathetic and inclusive policies and practices, we are cultivating a workplace culture where people feel valued, empowered, and inspired to reach their full potential,” says Shameel Joosub, CEO of Vodacom Group.
In 2024, Vodacom strengthened its Employee Value Proposition with employee offerings that endorse its commitment to creating an inclusive and supportive workplace. With an emphasis on Compassion, Acceptance, Respect and Empathy (C.A.R.E.), the company's enhanced wellness initiatives include support for all stages of life, such as menopause, and a more encompassing family responsibility leave policy.
“Maintaining our position as Africa's Top Employer once again demonstrates our dedication to enabling our employees to thrive. However, our focus on nurturing talent and career development in the tech industry extends to the millions of young people across the continent who are the future of work. There is an urgent need to prepare the next generation for the rapidly evolving digital economy. To this end, we have launched the Digital Skills Hub, with the goal to equip one million young people in Africa by 2027 by providing access to self-paced, digital skills training for those aged between 18 and 35,” says Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group.
Developed in collaboration with other tech organisations, including Amazon Web Services and Microsoft, the Vodacom Digital Skills Hub aims to boost digital literacy across Africa, bridging the digital skills gap across eight African countries including in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Kenya.
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is designed to empower the next generation, to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and entails fun and engaging practical digital skills training for young people on the continent. AWS Educate is one of the first programs to be offered through the Digital Skills Hub and an additional program to Vodacom's various existing online learning platforms. AWS Educate offers beginners an extensive library of self-paced online training that covers a range of topics from cloud fundamentals to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“As we embark on a new year, we want to encourage young people, whether they're students, job seekers or aspiring entrepreneurs, to benefit from the Digital Skills Hub. By supporting digital skills training as a Top Employer, we are empowering the next workforce and ensuring that everyone can connect to a better future,” concludes Joosub.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vodacom Group.
Vodacom Group Launches Initiative to Upskill 1 Million Young People Across Africa
Vodacom Group (www.Vodacom.com) has partnered with technology providers to provide young people on the continent with access to digital skills as part of its commitment to driving digital literacy for Africa's next generation. Together with AWS, Microsoft, Skillsoft and other collaborating organisations Vodacom aims to bridge the digital skills gap across eight African countries and upskill 1million young people by 2027.
The Vodacom Group Digital Skills Hub is available in South Africa, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mozambique, Lesotho, Egypt (Talimy), the Democratic Republic of Congo (VodaEduc), and in Kenya (Industry Digital Talent Program) to empower the next generation of digital innovators, enabling Africa's digital society and leveraging existing e-learning platforms in the respective markets.
According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), over 230 million jobs will require digital skills in Africa by 2030, yet the continent faces a significant gap in supply and demand for digital expertise.
“The African continent is plagued in many countries with high levels of unemployment, gender inequality, income disparity and limited access to education, healthcare and essential services. These challenges inform our purpose and drives our strategy to connect for a better future, leveraging digital technologies to drive inclusion into the future for the betterment of people. The launch of the Digital Skills Hub is testament to our commitment to pioneering the path to a digital and more inclusive Africa”, says Shameel Joosub, Vodacom Group CEO.
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub provides access to self-paced, digital skills training for those aged between 18 and 35. This is in addition to Vodacom Group's existing free, e-learning platforms across its markets. E-learning and digital classrooms have made it possible for students in remote or underserved areas to access quality education with platforms such as Talimy in Egypt, e-Fahamu in Tanzania, VodaEduc in the Democratic of Congo (DRC), Faz Crescer in Mozambique and an e-learning platform in South Africa, providing a wealth of online resources, which cater to different learning needs.
“We are extremely excited about this initiative which seeks to inspire the next wave of digital innovators. Our main aim with this initiative is to not only address the digital skills shortage on the continent but to also nurture a pipeline of young talent and in turn advance Africa's digital future, boosting opportunities for empowerment in an inclusive digital economy,” adds, Matimba Mbungela, Chief Human Resources Officer at Vodacom Group.
The Vodacom Digital Skills Hub is designed to empower the next generation, to consider a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and entails fun and engaging practical digital skills training for young people on the continent. AWS Educate is one of the first programs to be offered through the Digital Skills Hub and an additional program to Vodacom's various existing online learning platforms. AWS Educate offers beginners an extensive library of self-paced online training that covers a range of topics from cloud fundamentals to artificial intelligence and machine learning.
“With over 400 million young people between the ages of 15 and 35 in Africa, the continent has the youngest population in the world. Digital is the new currency, it is therefore imperative that we invest in them and provide them with the necessary digital skills that will not only boost their growth and development but that of the continent too,” concludes Joosub.
To access the Digital Skills Hub, click here (http://apo-opa.co/4hQ1ysJ).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Vodacom Group.
SARS welcomes MTBPS, increases its compliance focus
SARS welcomes MTBPS, increases its compliance focus
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has welcomed the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) presented in Parliament by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana on Wednesday.
The MTBPS revised the February 2024 Budget net tax revenue forecast from R1.863 trillion to R1.8408 trillion.
SARS said as of 30 September 2024, it has collected gross revenue of R1 070.4 billion, yielding a net revenue of R846.2 billion and R224.3 billion in refund payments.
The revenue performance was bolstered by stronger collections from CIT Provisional tax and lower-than-expected VAT and PIT refund payments.
This was offset by lower-than-expected collections from Customs taxes, PAYE, and the General Fuel Levy.
The areas that were adjusted downward are:
- Lower-than-expected previous year salary adjustments, reducing the nominal wage bill estimate from 8.4% in the 2024 Budget to 5.5% in the MTBPS 2024.
- Slower growth on capital projects across general government, public corporations and private sector, with gross capital formation anticipated to decline from 9.5% in the 2024 Budget to 5.2%.
- Downward revision in outlook of nominal exports from 5.2% to 3.5%, as well as nominal imports from 6.0% to 3.8%.
- At Budget 2024, a 13.8% growth in PAYE, based on the 8.4% growth in the wage bill, was assumed. PAYE collections for year-to-date (September 2024/25) amount to R340.0bn, lower than the PE by R12.0bn (3.4%) and higher than previous year by R30.8bn (10.0%).
SARS highlighted that the deficit in revenue collections was partially offset by strong collections in CIT provisional tax collections (at R150.2 billion) against an expectation of R141.4 billion, yielding a surplus of R8.8 billion, up by 2.7% or R3.9 billion from the previous year.
The fuel levy has faced challenges this financial year due to a year-on-year decrease in fuel consumption, with 1.333 million litres less fuel used. SARS said that this decline, attributed to factors like reduced load shedding and a shift to alternative energy sources, has directly impacted the Net Fuel Levy, resulting in a 3.9% year-on-year contraction and a R7.2 billion shortfall.
Trade taxes also underperformed, as imports, which were expected to grow by 1.9%, have instead declined by 5.1% year-to-date. Total trade flows have decreased by R39.2 billion (or -2.0%) compared to the same period last year, primarily due to lower import flows of electrical machinery and vehicles.
SARS noted that Provisional Corporate Income Tax (CIT) collections reached R150.2 billion, recording a surplus of R8.8 billion (6.2%) and a year-on-year growth of R3.9 billion (2.7%), driven by the Finance, Electricity, and Manufacturing sectors.
Collections exceeded the Budget 2024 target rate of -3.3%. However, the Mining sector continues to struggle with volatile commodity prices, particularly in Platinum Group Metals, Coal and Iron Ore, which has negatively impacted profitability and provisional payments. Additionally, the sector faces ongoing transport, logistics, and border crossing issues, leading to delays and higher export costs.
Despite having finalised ± 1.3 million more debt cases, which is almost 290% more than the previous year, SARS said its debt compliance efforts have yielded lower returns year-on-year by R9.3 billion, which equals to a 23.6% year-on-year contraction.
SARS further recorded significant year-on-year increases in deferred payment arrangements, requests for suspension of payments, and final demands, highlighting the financial hardship taxpayers are experiencing and its impact on their ability to meet tax obligations.
“The SARS Strategic Intent will continue to focus on Voluntary Compliance, ensuring that taxpayers and traders have clarity and certainty regarding their obligations, along with the necessary tools to facilitate easy and straightforward compliance. Conversely, SARS will impose significant legal and administrative costs on taxpayers and traders who deliberately fail to meet their obligations,” the revenue service said.
SARS said that its compliance efforts continue to yield success in dealing with non-compliance in particular segments and tax products. To date, compliance revenue secured R110.1 billion, reflecting a growth of R8.1 billion (8.0%).
The Revenue Service emphasised that it will continue to intensify its efforts to maintain visibility and reinforce compliance, with plans to invest further on compliance initiatives to close the tax gap by targeting various taxpayer segments.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter said that in pursuing the attainment of the 2024/25 tax revenue estimate of R1 840.8 billion, SARS will be unrelenting in its drive to engender voluntary compliance.
“Critical in this pursuit is to ensure that intermediaries charged by law to collect taxes on behalf of SARS pay it over. Importantly, SARS is ready to act against those who willfully and defiantly ignore their legal obligations by misrepresenting their true economic status. Those who enable this conduct are equally culpable.
“Taxpayers who abdicate their legal obligations place a disproportionate burden on honest taxpayers. Taxes play a critical role in cushioning the most vulnerable and destitute in our society. In this respect, voluntary compliance is sacrosanct,” Kieswetter said.
The Commissioner further emphasized that SARS will continue to intensify and deepen its existing administrative efforts.
“We will continue to use sophisticated data science and artificial intelligence, to maintain the balance between service to taxpayers/traders, whilst managing risks to the fiscus by detecting dishonest taxpayers,” he said.
SARS will deploy more data science and artificial intelligence (AI) to step up its focus on the following areas of compliance risk:
- Broadening the tax base via third-party data sources: Leveraging data from both formal and informal sectors to widen the tax base.
- Work to register all taxpayers and traders, through predictive modelling, who ought to be on the register and ensure that they honestly file their declarations and pay their dues where necessary.
- Build its detection capability using machine learning models and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to significantly improve service and offer a seamless service to honest taxpayers. This will also be used to detect dishonest taxpayers, improve debt collection while expanding the tax base and deal with tax avoidance.
- Enforcing trade laws against the illicit economy (Customs and Excise): Strengthening tools to detect and prevent illicit activities, including those related to tobacco, fuel, and illicit financial flows.
- Focusing on dispute prevention and resolution: Prioritising products and strategies that prevent disputes that can be resolved.
“SARS is the nation’s treasure; a well-functioning tax and customs administration is a cornerstone to our vibrant democracy and should never be taken for granted. SARS seeks to ensure revenue sustainability by securing appropriate investment in SARS, and funding certainty.
“From a human capital perspective, SARS will continue to attract, develop and sustain a workforce that is future ready. We will be building the leadership bench strength of SARS and protect the autonomy of the institution,” the tax revenue said.
Despite the tough operating environment, SARS said it expects that the start of a cycle of interest rate cuts will spur consumption expenditure. This expansion is expected to drive economic growth and widen the tax base, resulting in buoyant corporate tax, and VAT revenues.
Additionally, the introduction of the “Two-Pot” system is expected to increase the tax base in the short to medium term.
“The 12 821 SARS staff, to whom we express sincere appreciation, will continue to work diligently in achieving the revised revenue estimate as presented by the Minister of Finance,” SARS said. – SAnews.gov.za
DikelediM
Thu, 10/31/2024 - 11:03
299 views
Kaspersky Uncovers New Grandoreiro Light Variant
Despite the arrest of important operators in early 2024, Grandoreiro continues to be used by its partners in new campaigns. Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis team (GReAT) (www.Kaspersky.co.za) has discovered a new light version focused on Mexico targeting around 30 banks. These findings are to be highlighted at the Security Analyst Summit (SAS) 2024. Remaining one of the most active threats globally and targeting users of more than 1,700 banks, Grandoreiro variants account for around five percent of banking trojan attacks this year. Mexico is one of the most targeted countries by various Grandoreiro strains, including the new light version, seeing 51,000 recorded incidents this year.
Kaspersky data indicates Grandoreiro has been active since 2016. In 2024, the threat targets more than 1,700 financial institutions and 276 cryptocurrency wallets across 45 countries and territories, lastly adding Asia and Africa to the list of its targets, making it a truly global financial threat. Among countries affected in Africa are Algeria, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda.
After assisting an INTERPOL-coordinated action, which has led to Brazilian authorities arresting (http://apo-opa.co/3BUqgrb) operators behind a Grandoreiro banking trojan operation, Kaspersky discovered that the group's codebase has been split into lighter, fragmented versions of the trojan, to continue its attacks. Recent analysis has identified a specific light version focused primarily on Mexico, which has been used to target approximately 30 financial institutions. The creators likely have access to the source code and are launching new campaigns using the simplified legacy malware.
“All the recent developments underscore the evolving nature of the threat. Fragmented and lighter versions may represent a trend that could extend beyond Mexico and into other regions, including beyond Latin America. However, we believe that only some trusted affiliates have access to the malware source code to develop such lighter versions. Grandoreiro operates differently from the traditional ‘Malware-as-a-Service' model we are accustomed to. You won't find announcements on underground forums selling the Grandoreiro package; instead, access to it appears to be limited,” explains Fabio Assolini, head of the Latin American (GReAT) at Kaspersky.
Multiple variants of Grandoreiro, including the new light version and the primary malware, accounted for approximately five percent of global banking trojan attacks detected by Kaspersky in 2024, making it one of the most active threats worldwide. Kaspersky has also analysed the newer samples of the primary Grandoreiro from 2024, and observed new tactics. It records mouse activity to mimic real user patterns, aiming to evade detection by machine learning-based security systems that analyse behaviour. By replaying natural mouse movements, the malware aims to trick anti-fraud tools into seeing the activity as legitimate.
Additionally, Grandoreiro has adopted a cryptographic technique known as Ciphertext Stealing (CTS), which Kaspersky has never seen being used in malware. In this case, its aim is to encrypt the malicious code strings. “Grandoreiro has a large and complex structure, which would make it easier for security tools or analysts to detect if its strings were not encrypted. This is likely why they introduced this new technique – to complicate the detection and analysis of their attacks,” Fabio Assolini elaborated.
To protect from financial malware, Kaspersky security experts recommend organisations to:
- Enable a Default Deny policy for critical user profiles, particularly those in financial departments; this ensures that only legitimate web resources can be accessed.
- Provide cybersecurity awareness training (http://apo-opa.co/4e3nlKa) to staff, especially to employees responsible for accounting, that includes instructions on how to detect phishing pages.
- Use protection solutions for mail servers with anti-phishing capabilities such as Kaspersky Security for Mail Server, to decrease the chance of infection through a phishing email.
While banks should educate its customers, individuals are advised to:
- Never open links or documents included in unexpected or suspicious-looking messages. Be attentive to web pages – from the right web address to details of interface.
- Use a reliable security solution, such as Kaspersky Premium (http://apo-opa.co/4dWrbEW), that protect digital assets from a wide range of financial cyberthreats.
- Install only applications obtained from reliable sources.
- Refrain from approving rights or permissions requested by applications without first ensuring they match the application's feature set.
- Install the latest updates and patches for all software used.
Read more on Securelist (http://apo-opa.co/3C4N5bD). The comprehensive Grandoreiro analysis and overview is to be presented by GReAT at Kaspersky's sixteenth Security Analyst Summit (SAS) (http://apo-opa.co/3BPHtly), which takes place from October 22-25, 2024, in Bali.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
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Nicole Allman
INK&Co.
nicole@inkandco.co.za
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About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.
Bringing Streaming to the Mainstream
Television is in the midst of its latest game-changing technology shift – this time from the traditional linear, direct-to-home (DTH) content distribution model to the over-the-top or OTT approach.
OTT – or streaming – offers flexibility, and means users are no longer tied to a specific device or location to consume content.
The power of access is now in the hands of the customer, who can choose what to watch, when, and how much of it. This is an advantage for large content providers. At MultiChoice Africa, for instance, streaming on-demand is the perfect way to give customers access to our self-produced local content library of 84 000 hours.
Innovating for a better experience
The shift to streaming and OTT also comes with new challenges, however. Faced with thousands of hours of content, viewers may be overwhelmed. Artificial Intelligence and machine learning allow us to solve this, surfacing and recommending customised selections of content based on viewing behaviour.
To do this effectively, UX design must build upon AI data insights, to shape the content experience in ways that are both personalised and attuned to industry trends.
Because audience preferences can now be observed and understood in real time, it's also important that in-house UX teams be deeply integrated with product and tech teams. This has been our approach with our ongoing MultiChoice UI design refinements.
Another AI application in the broader content space is in building efficiencies that allow millions of viewers to watch content in their local languages.
At MultiChoice, have been able to train AI for subtitling in several regional languages, enabling us to automate translations for entire series of content. This capability has already been deployed for Swahili translations in Kenya, on the Showmax platform, as well as in two vernacular languages in Nigeria.
The next step is to use AI to automate the audio dubbing of content into African regional languages to further bolster the content that we already deliver in those languages.
As an Africa-wide content provider, MultiChoice also understands that our customers face very real data challenges. We have therefore been forced to innovate to alleviate this pain point, and to find value and efficiencies for our customers through technology.
Data compression is one solution we have found. To address the distance factor, we have found partners that will allow us to cache content closer to our various user communities. We have created nodes closer to those regions that will copy content from source locations in South Africa before relaying it to the end user.
Adapted bit rate is another practical solution to data challenges. With this in place, picture quality adapts dynamically along with internet fluctuations, while ensuring that the stream remains uninterrupted. We also allow users to select bit rates and stream qualities according to their needs, to optimise their data use.
We have also formed partnerships with telcos across Africa to package our content with their data offers. It is a time of great innovation in the market.
Buffering and latency solutions
A related technology challenge is latency issues, which will be familiar to anyone who has been watching live TV during a power outage. The streaming lags and buffering effects that often result can be a real inconvenience. To address this, we have implemented a low-latency solution with one of our partners. Again, the goal is for streaming to have the same latency quality as DTH or linear satellite TV.
In our approach to solving this, we set ourselves the goal of getting our buffering rate to below the industry standard in developed countries, which is 0.72%. The buffering rate represents the percentage of time that a device is buffering, instead of playing content. We have already achieved an average of 0.31% and we are confident of achieving further gains.
We are also working to optimise our configuration to ensure that our OTT platforms receive our stream before satellite receives the stream, to gain additional seconds, and compensate for the discrepancy.
If we are going to bring streaming into the mainstream, I believe it should have the same high-quality viewing experience as satellite.
Another technological discrepancy is lags in the content delivery times between DTH and streaming. We conducted a study of major international players in “first world” markets, and found that streaming delivery was often between 20 and 25 seconds behind satellite.
In our quest to align these two platforms, we have managed to get lags down to five seconds, and we are on course to drop them even further, so that our steaming speed is on par with our decoder broadcasts. This confirms that African streaming services are now among the global leaders in this space.
The next phase of innovation in the TV space is already upon us. Thanks to streaming innovation, the medium is now ubiquitous – accessible everywhere we go.
But for that transition to be real, for it to represent real evolution, we must use all the technology and expertise at our disposal to ensure streaming is as good, as fast, and as seamless as the technology that came before it. And even more entertaining!
Then, it becomes time for the next transition. And that process is already underway. It's an exciting time for television.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of MultiChoice Group.
Healthcare Indaba 2024: Advancing Global Health Through Innovation and Digital Solutions
Delegates will gather in the Mother City in South Africa this month, when the second annual Healthcare Indaba takes place at Cape Town's CTICC. The two-day event forms part of the 2024 edition of Africa Health Congress (www.AfricaHealthExhibition.com), the premier healthcare gathering on the African continent.
Building on the success of its inaugural edition last year, the Healthcare Indaba 2024 expands to a two-day format. It dives into the realms of Global Health on day one and exploring AI & Digital Health on day two of the Congress (running from 22 to 24 October 2024).
Another new element to the Congress and the Indaba deliberations, is the dedicated forum within the Africa Health Congress 2024 entitled, “EmpowHER: Women in Healthcare”.
“Our goal is to create a lasting brand that celebrates female leadership and fosters a supportive community. Our audience is eager to gain insights into the realities of leadership in healthcare and understand the journey it takes to reach the top. The mandate for our speakers will be candidness and honesty, they will share their personal experiences, challenges, and successes in the hopes of inspiring the audience. Their stories and insights will help ensure the long-term sustainability of our industry through supporting women and celebrating their successes,” says Cynthia Makarutse, spokesperson for the organisers of Africa Health.
“Much like the Mining and Tourism Indabas which inspired it, the Healthcare Indaba has emerged as a crucial platform for shaping the future of our industry on the continent. This year's focus aligns with our commitment to position Africa at the forefront of medical innovation with worldwide impact,” says Makarutse.
The Indaba will feature discussions led by some of the most influential voices in African healthcare and technology.
“Global Health” – Africa claiming its right place on global stage.
Head of the Global Surgery Division at the University of Cape Town, Professor Salome Maswime, will chair the Global Health deliberations of the Indaba on day one. She explains that she is excited about hosting a dynamic programme that brings leaders together from all over the world and from all sectors.
“We hope to have thought provoking sessions about the role of Africa on the Global Health Stage. This will be a first for Africa Health, with the Vice President of the United Nations Foundation delivering the keynote on Global Health strategies for a resilient future,” she adds.
“I think most importantly it gives us an opportunity to discuss and find consensus on the strategies for Global Health and to align on international programmes, and to collaborate on new and strategic programmes. Many of us are involved on international Global Health platforms, yet the global health agenda is still mainly driven and owned by high income countries. We have an opportunity to re-imagine the future of Global Health for Africa.
“It is time for Africa to get involved on all matters related to Global Health. We cannot afford to be left behind. We have an obligation to provide universal health coverage and to improve healthcare in Africa,” says Maswime.
“AI & Digital Health” – building sustainable solutions.
The second day of Indaba 2024 (on Wednesday 23 October) shines the spotlight on AI & Digital Health.
“The significance of this event lies in its ability to convene leading industry experts, innovators and key stakeholders from across the continent to address pressing healthcare challenges and explore transformative solutions,” says Dr Mories Atoki, CEO of ABCHealth and a speaker on the day.
“The ABCHealth side forum on Digital Health will serve as a platform to discuss how AI and digital health can revolutionize healthcare delivery, making it more accessible and efficient. It is a critical moment for both the private and public sectors to explore more and collaborate on building sustainable systems that address Africa's unique healthcare needs through AI.”
For the people of Africa, Dr Atoki believes this congress provides hope.
“The conversations and outcomes from these sessions will not only influence policy but also drive tangible improvements in healthcare services, enhancing quality of life and reducing healthcare inequalities across the continent.
“For the medical sector, it presents a unique opportunity to explore new opportunities, strengthen partnerships, share groundbreaking innovations, and leverage digital health means to drive healthcare accessibility and efficiency. This signifies progress toward better healthcare outcomes through improved access, affordability, and quality of care. By highlighting the potential of AI and digital health, we can pave the way for more inclusive, patient-centric care which can also bridge gaps in underserved areas,” she says.
“Africa's healthcare future relies largely on embracing digital interventions. AI and digital health are not just trends—they are an essential part of a globally advancing economy that can help solve some of the continent's most pressing healthcare challenges, from limited access, specialized care to overburdened systems.
“Achieving this on a large scale requires robust ecosystems, supported by both regulatory frameworks and financial investments. Policy reforms and investments are essential to creating a thriving digital health ecosystem. It will also require multi-sector partnerships that prioritize patient safety, data protection, and equitable access and inclusivity,” says Dr Atoki.
“AI & Digital Health: The need to first address health data accessibility.”
“We cannot hope to effectively use the rapidly increasing AI set of commodities that are becoming available globally in Africa, before we first address health data accessibility and governance locally” says Dr Chris Fourie, a medical doctor, machine learning operations (MLOps) engineer, researcher and online grassroots community organiser.
As another speaker on day two, he says: “My presentation is related to the foundation that we need (i.e. health data accessibility) in order to do any kind of quantitative analysis, data science, machine learning, or AI for health in Africa. When considering the potential impact and significance of these in Africa, a good place to start is with understanding the burden of disease in Africa.”
“Regularly published Global Burden of Disease data shows us that infectious disease and maternal child health are consistently top of the list for Africa. These should be considered when deciding where data science and AI interventions could target. As an example, Africa would stand to benefit a great amount from interventions that can drop the cost and increase the efficacy of primary health interventions,” says Fourie.
“While the scope for what AI can do is really broad, for Africa the capacity to help collect and utilise data for primary and pre-primary care could generate immense impact.”
Fourie says this could be realised as:
- Broader and interactive patient health education (especially if in one's their own language) making existing health information more accessible.
- Better health service accessibility e.g.
- Encrypted / safe remote conversational / natural language health data collection.
- Cost-effective, early and automated diagnosis and triage using multimodal data from existing patient records and new data from e.g. mobile personal devices.
- Rapid and higher quality patient data linkage / aggregation and government action related to this data - e.g. the growth of national health data centres in the global south – this is very useful for toward data driven public health policy development.
- Lower cost and quicker drug development e.g. to address rising resistance.
- Personalised healthcare and clinical decision support tools, with data driven patient follow up, treatment tracking and dynamic treatment adjustment.
“I would like to see the initiation and ongoing development of multidisciplinary, multi-stakeholder, participatory collectives to help provide effective channels of communication and cooperation between patients, healthcare service providers, researcher, funders and policy makers toward a future culture of open science and sustainable health equity.”
EmpowHER: Women in Healthcare: The power of she – A new class of women leaders.
Day three of the Africa Health Congress will see a long list of leading female voices in the healthcare space sharing their stories at a dedicated forum that celebrates female leadership and fosters a supportive community.
“Everything we are doing at Congress this year is about tackling the challenges wherever they may be located in the healthcare space and finding solutions. This is the same motivation also for EmpowHER as we invite trailblazing women from across Africa's healthcare scene to unite!
“This summit will ignite community, growth, and empowerment for established and emerging leaders. Through dynamic panels and keynotes, shatter personal and professional boundaries and emerge ready to champion change for women in leadership” says Cynthia Makarutse, spokesperson for the organisers of Africa Health.
Speakers on the day include the Chief Scientific Officer at the SA Medical Research Council Professor Glenda Gray, Microsoft's Kenya Country General Manager Phyllis Migwi, the World Bank's Lead: AI for Human Development Marelize Prestidge, and Wesgro's HealthTech Ecosystem Manager Mandi Swanepoel.
Indaba – an ecosystem of innovation.
"The Healthcare Indaba has become the intellectual core of Africa Health; it's a catalyst for change on a global scale,” says Makarutse.
“By bringing together diverse stakeholders at the highest echelons of their various fields in healthcare – including policymakers, facility directors, entrepreneurs, and academics – we are establishing an ecosystem of innovation that can truly transform healthcare delivery across Africa and inspire solutions worldwide.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Health .
About Africa Health Congress:
- Africa Health is organised by the Informa Markets' Global Healthcare Group. It takes place at Cape Town International Convention Centre in South Africa between 22 and 24 October 2024.
- A summary report from the Africa Health Congress 2023 can be downloaded from https://apo-opa.co/3YvA7Nb
- The Exhibition will host CPD-accredited conferences that are aimed at bridging the gap in medical knowledge by providing the very latest insights into cutting-edge procedures, techniques, and skills.
- For more information, visit www.AfricaHealthExhibition.com
- Media queries and requests for accreditation can be addressed to Martin Slabbert at 079 500 1503 or martin@alkemi.global
Issued by Alkemi Collective on behalf of Africa Health.
Call to declare crypto assets with SARS
Call to declare crypto assets with SARS
The South African Revenue Service has encouraged taxpayers with various digital currencies, which includes crypto assets, to declare these with its Voluntary Disclosure Programme (VDP) to facilitate compliance.
This comes as the South African Revenue Service (SARS) has noted the phenomenal growth in the use of various digital currencies by many South Africans.
Prominent amongst these is the prevalence of crypto assets. A staggering number of more than 5.8 million South Africans hold a crypto asset, with Southern Africa boasting the largest uptake of Bitcoin in the world.
SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter once more reminded taxpayers to honestly and dutifully honour their legal obligations by declaring all their income.
“SARS has been working ceaselessly to ensure compliance by all taxpayers, and those who are evading their responsibility make the burden of compliance difficult for compliant taxpayers.
“This is not only unfair to honest taxpayers but affects the vulnerable in society disproportionately by limiting the state’s ability to deliver social grants and other much needed social benefits.
“Let all know that technology has enhanced SARS’ ability to root out non-compliant taxpayers. Be warned, SARS will pursue all without fear, favour or prejudice,” the Commissioner said on Wednesday.
SARS is legally obligated to account for any income or assets held by taxpayers and had previously invited crypto exchanges and those involved in trading or holding crypto assets to disclose related activities on a voluntary basis.
“As a follow up, SARS will be including crypto assets into its compliance programmes. Consequently, SARS is engaging with the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) regarding the provision of information on registered Crypto Asset Service Providers (CASPs). SARS is also receiving information directly from the local exchanges.
“Importantly, it must be underscored that through multilateral agreements SARS is exchanging information with other tax authorities globally,” SARS said.
The provision of offshore crypto accounts will be the subject of a multilateral agreement to be signed by Ministers of Finance in November 2024, which will catalyse the cross jurisdictional exchange of such information in respect of South African taxpayers.
“SARS believes that most taxpayers and traders are honest and that they expect to be assisted to fulfil their legal obligations. Pursuant to our legal mandate, SARS provides certainty and clarity about all legal obligations for taxpayers and traders.
“SARS is also working assiduously to make it easy and simple for taxpayers and traders to seamlessly comply with their obligations.
“Critically, it is our strategic objective to make it hard and costly for those who are willfully non-compliant. These efforts are intended to support our Strategic Intent of fostering a culture of voluntary compliance,” SARS said.
Resultantly, in addressing crypto compliance SARS is increasing capability in its audit teams to support enforcement initiatives.
SARS has resorted to greater use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and algorithms to process its work.
“In implementing our mandate, SARS has recently issued query letters to taxpayers with crypto assets. These letters aim to gain an insight into taxpayers’ investment in crypto assets and the trades undertaken to enable SARS to assess taxpayers’ compliance in this regard,” the revenue service said.
SARS warned taxpayers that the VDP, which facilitates compliance, has strict conditions.
“One being that taxpayers must approach SARS first. Once SARS has identified the taxpayer for audit, they are precluded from applying for the VDP,” the revenue service said. -SAnews.gov.za
nosihle
Wed, 10/09/2024 - 09:58
639 views
The Evolution of Software Development and Managed Services
Software Development and Innovation Software development has grown significantly, playing a critical role in driving digital innovation across industries. Software development companies have become central to this evolution, creating cutting-edge solutions that streamline processes, enhance customer experiences, and promote efficiency. Whether it’s a small business or a large corporation, partnering with the right software development …
Work, life and Artificial Intelligence (AI): 34% believe that AI can be a better boss than a human
AI is becoming a new member of society according to results from a new Kaspersky (www.Kaspersky.co.za) survey titled ‘Excitement, Superstition and great Insecurity – How global Consumers engage with the Digital World' (https://apo-opa.co/3WRj99J). The study also found that today artificial intelligence is taking on new roles in fields where it can succeed and be trusted by humans.
Based on statistics from Similarweb (https://apo-opa.co/46WpO7u), ChatGPT, one of the world's most popular chatbots, garnered 153 million visits in the first month after its launch in November 2022, and peaked at 2 billion visits in April 2024. In light of the rapid advancements in AI, Kaspersky has conducted an in-depth study to explore current levels of confidence in AI. The study examines its roles from management positions in the workplace to assisting with significant life decisions.
According to the study, respondents see AI as their team member at work, and a manager – 34% globally believe AI can be a fairer boss than a human being because of its impartiality. For respondents from the Middle East, Turkiye and Africa (META) region this statistic is 40%. In South Africa it is 42%.
Another area where AI can play an active role is education. 47% of respondents globally, 60% in the META region and 68% in South Africa foresee children being taught through virtual experience and Metaverses in the near future.
Half (50%) of all consumers globally, 53% in the META region and 64% in South Africa believe that AI has already become an unavoidable part of their lives, with 43%, 46% and 52% respectively having a positive outlook on its potential to bring about many exciting opportunities and improve the future for everyone. A large portion of respondents admit that AI has capabilities in creative areas – 62% globally, 59% in the META region and 53% in South Africa believe AI is a credible producer of works of art.
AI can also be considered a reliable companion and an assistant in everyday life. More than half of respondents (57%) globally, 67% in the META region and 60% in South Africa would like to use AI to run their daily lives more efficiently.
48% of those surveyed globally, 60% in the META region and 56% in South Africa are ready to use an AI chatbot to have conversation online - 31%, 38% and 33% respectively would use it to help them to find the right partner on a dating app. In fact, 48% globally, 58% in the META region and 63% in South Africa believe that human relationships will change because of the impact of AI if virtual characters start replacing real-life partners.
“We are witnessing the growing adoption of AI as a valuable tool, assisting people in diverse areas. Beyond traditional applications, such as processing and analysing data, AI is being entrusted with more intriguing personal roles, including romance, education, and work. As AI technologies continue to evolve, their potential to drive innovation and improve human experiences becomes even more profound. However, this advancement also brings unexpected risks and sophisticated threats, ranging from overreliance — putting too much trust in AI advice — to AI-generated phishing, deepfakes and identity theft. These are the challenges that we need to address across multiple levels,” comments Vladislav Tushkanov, Machine Learning Technology Research Group Manager at Kaspersky.
In order to protect users against AI-driven threats, Kaspersky suggests:
- Install a trusted cybersecurity solution (https://apo-opa.co/3yU026X) that can offer protection against AI-enhanced phishing by detecting malicious pages and preventing interaction with them. Such a solution will assist in identifying and blocking fraudulent emails and websites aiming to steal personal information.
- To counter the risks posed by deepfakes, it is wise to avoid trusting requests for data or money immediately, even if they seem to come from friends, family members or colleagues. Verifying the authenticity of the request through alternative communication methods is a prudent step.
- Utilising an online Privacy checker (https://apo-opa.co/3AtvdGX) is essential for adjusting privacy settings to limit exposure to AI-enhanced identity theft. This approach minimises the amount of personal information accessible online, making it more challenging for threat actors to exploit personal data.
The full Kaspersky report ‘Excitement, Superstition and great Insecurity – How global Consumers engage with the Digital World' is available via this link (https://apo-opa.co/3WRj99J).
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kaspersky.
About the survey:
In June 2024, Kaspersky commissioned Arlington Research to conduct an online survey of 10,000 respondents to explore the respondents' attitude towards current digital superstitions, AI role in human's life and topic of digital immortality. The sample included 1,000 respondents from each of the UK, Germany and France, and 500 in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Brazil, Mexico, Russia, Kazakhstan, India, China, Indonesia, Turkiye, KSA, UAE, and South Africa.
About Kaspersky:
Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company founded in 1997. With over a billion devices protected to date from emerging cyberthreats and targeted attacks, Kaspersky's deep threat intelligence and security expertise is constantly transforming into innovative solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the globe. The company's comprehensive security portfolio includes leading endpoint protection, specialized security products and services, as well as Cyber Immune solutions to fight sophisticated and evolving digital threats. We help over 200,000 corporate clients protect what matters most to them. Learn more at www.Kaspersky.co.za.
Unlocking The Potential Of Ai And Machine Learning For South African Companies
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SARS pays out billions in 2024 tax season refunds
SARS pays out billions in 2024 tax season refunds
The South African Revenue Services (SARS) has already paid out about R10 billion in refunds to at least 1.6 million taxpayers who were auto-assessed ahead of this year’s Tax Season.This is according to SARS Commissioner, Edward Kieswetter who was briefing the media on Tuesday.
In the first two weeks of July, at least five million taxpayers were auto-assessed by the revenue service.
“We completed these annual returns and tax assessments while, simultaneously, running each assessment outcome through our compliance risk and tax fraud detection capability. All this is possible because of the investment that we have been able to make in increasing and expanding the use of third-party data in the past few years.
“We’re able to process over 90% of refunds for taxpayers that are not selected for verification within 72 hours through our fraud risk detection AI. We direct high risk taxpayers – for whom we suspect there may be a fraudulent or impermissible refund – for further verification,” he said.
READ | SARS to provide update of Tax Season 2024
In order to complete auto-assessments accurately, SARS harvested nearly 150 million third-party data records. This information was then processed through the application of artificial intelligence and enhanced machine learning algorithms.
“We are extremely reliant on employers, banks and other third-party information providers to provide us with accurate data. The integrity of the entire value chain of data is important. We have worked extremely hard this past year with large institutions and entities to improve the accuracy of bulk data submissions.
“We appreciate the partnerships with all third-party data providers to enable a seamless experience for taxpayers. Inaccurate data, or late data, causes downstream difficulties and unnecessary delays and frustrations for taxpayers.
“SARS uses sophisticated graph database technology to decipher billions and billions of rows of data that allows us to compose a single entity view of a taxpayer and this, in turn, allows us to produce an assessment outcome as well as conducting the necessary risk detection through the artificial intelligence methodologies,” he said.
Kieswetter added that the AI tool used by SARS to detect fraud has saved the fiscus billions of Rands in fraudulent refunds.
“Last year alone, this fraud detection capability prevented almost R100 billion of impermissible PIT and VAT [Personal Income Tax and Value Added Tax] refunds from being paid out and lost to the fiscus,” he said. – SAnews.gov.za
NeoB
Tue, 07/16/2024 - 15:14
98 views
Regulatory Compliance and Security in Fintech
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Leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Health: The New Frontier in Social Innovation to accelerate progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3)
In the evolving landscape of global health, digital innovation emerges as a beacon of hope, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in healthcare access, quality, and affordability. A recent white paper by the World Economic Forum, produced in collaboration with the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, EY, and Microsoft, sheds light on an exciting paradigm shift: the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in social innovation, especially within healthcare. AI uptake has the potential to improve immunisation programmes, supply chains, referrals, diagnoses, drug safety, and overall health system efficiency.
The report finds three primary impact areas where AI is making significant contributions:
- Healthcare, with 25% of innovators using AI to advance access to health;
- Environmental sustainability, with 20% of social innovators applying AI to tackle climate solutions; and
- Economic empowerment, notably prevalent in lower-income countries where 80% of all initiatives aimed at enhancing livelihoods are based.
Healthcare is by far the most prevalent impact domain that social innovators are addressing with AI. Corresponding to this, 1 in 4 Social innovators are deploying AI to advance Sustainable Development Goal 3, Good Health and Well-being. This is apparent across all geographies as innovators seek to adopt AI to address multiple challenges within the area of healthcare.
Referenced in this report is BroadReach Group, a social impact organisation, that is using AI and machine learning to equip health care workers, leaders and institutions to better manage their scarce resources and drive better health outcomes for all. Vantage Health Technologies, a part of BroadReach Group is harnessing its work across continents in the following ways:
- Using AI in Africa to support large HIV and TB programs by identifying gaps in resources and supporting decision making and targeted actions to address those gaps. This has allowed many districts particularly in South Africa, with the largest HIV population in the world to come close to achieving the UN goals of 95-95-95. The 95-95-95 HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression targets aim to close gaps in HIV treatment coverage and outcomes in all sub-populations, age groups and geographic settings.
- Vantage has provided program oversight to Tuberculosis (TB) programs in Africa by providing a single system to manage all key areas. TB outcomes are difficult to manage without daily insight into performance data. Vantage integrated already existing feeds from the national health data system to drive active decision making and launch interventions to address performance, data quality and reporting compliance.
- A leading non-governmental organisation in Nigeria that provides prevention, treatment and care services across HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria uses AI and predictive analytics in Vantage to prevent missed appointments and bring patients back to care. The outputs are used to prioritise outreach to high-risk patients and monitor the effectiveness of interventions to proactively highlight areas needing attention.
- In the US, Vantage is addressing Social Determinants of Health, by automating social care coordination for cancer patients. The early results have shown improved patient outcomes, improved equity and financial sustainability, while simultaneously reducing the administrative burden on the workforce.
Dr. Ernest Darkoh, co-founder of BroadReach Group, says, “the fundamental issue in healthcare, whether you are in Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Europe, or the USA, is that demand outstrips supply in terms of health services, doctors, nurses, and medications. The healthcare sector is trying to deliver on an antiquated model of ‘sick care' without real-time intelligence on disease patterns, who is being affected the most, or the adequacy of healthcare resources. We need to change this paradigm to be more effective by leveraging data and digital solutions to ensure we are always spending the next hour and the next dollar in the in the most impactful way possible.”
Global Collaboration to Achieve Health Equity
The report also shows that Africa is emerging, with leaders like South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya. Egypt and Kenya have developed national AI strategies. In other countries like Cameroon, individual social innovators are using AI to address healthcare challenges, such as developing low-cost diagnostic tools for malaria. The continent is also seeing AI applications in economic empowerment and various ML capabilities.
Paul Bhuhi, Managing Director of Vantage shares, ‘'AI is becoming more accepted, with healthcare leaders seeing the promise of AI to drive real improvement in health access, quality, and affordability. Yet, the education gap between innovators and the policy makers inhibits AI adoption, In our experience Rwanda and Kenya are leading that push but more needs to be done.”
An important lesson that BroadReach Group is applying is that learning healthcare lessons in one country can have a profound global impact through collaboration. By sharing best practices, innovations, and research findings, countries can collectively address common health challenges more effectively. Collaborative efforts enable the adaptation of successful strategies to different contexts, promoting universal health improvements and accelerating progress towards global health goals like SDG 3. This exchange of knowledge fosters a more interconnected and resilient global healthcare community, where advancements in one region benefit all.
Dr. John Sargent, co-founder of BroadReach Group, says “an example of impact through collaboration is using our experience and learnings in Africa addressing health inequity and applying them to promote health equity in cancer care in the US. Our teams work across geographies and this collaboration has shown that we can more effectively and rapidly improve patient care because of this experience. Although every geography and market has its differences, many of the same core principles, critical lessons learned, and approaches apply, allowing us to rapidly adapt and implement solutions that have a real impact for populations in need while ensuring that the health system is using its resources in the most impactful way.”
Embracing the Ethical Adoption of AI
The next generation of ethical generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) provides new hope for more equitable healthcare, but advances in technology must never come at the cost of patient rights. AI systems should start with guardrails and ethics within their foundational design.
Chris LeGrand, CEO of BroadReach Group emphasises, “regulatory frameworks for ethical use of AI in healthcare are still early stage but are progressing. The new Digital Trade Protocol recently adopted by African heads of state under the Africa Continental Trade Area (AfCTA) is an example of international bodies defining the desired digital landscape with rules based on common principles, including protecting personal data while promoting trusted, safe, ethical use of emerging technologies. Regulation is slowly evolving to create trust and confidence in the protection of health data.”
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BroadReach Group.
BroadReach Group is a group of social impact businesses focused on harnessing innovation and technology to empower human action. Since 2003 BroadReach Group has worked in over 30 countries to support governments, international NGOs, public and private sector to improve health outcomes for their populations.
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