Reimagining ethical AI for African futures.

The vision of the AI Initiative is a world where everybody benefits equitably from the transformative power of AI. Its mission is to provide a rich ecosystem that enables researchers and students to do excellent AI research which will create tools and opportunities that facilitate the transition to a just society.

Driven by an ambition to develop AI for a Just World, we focus on accelerating the research in Health and Wellbeing, Climate and the Environment, Poverty, Inequality and AI Safety, with a strong emphasis on building foundational AI tools and expertise.

 

Reimaging ethical AI for African futures

VC Prof Mosha Moshabela circle

 

“Artificial Intelligence holds enormous potential to make a real difference to the lives of those living in South Africa and beyond. Join UCT on this venture to create a society where technology enables brilliant minds to bring about a just world.”

Professor Mosa Moshabela, Vice - Chancellor, University of Cape Town

 

AI Insights

African Feminist Interventions in AI Ethics

African Feminist Interventions in AI Ethics

Webinar Recap: Ololade Faniyi and Irene Mwendwa repositioned African feminist thought as a vital source of critique for AI ethics, challenging frameworks that treat Africa only as a site of harm rather than innovation.
Read more
Photo of Murray Leibbrandt, Sam Carter, and Sarah Kopper at the ARUA 2025 biennial conference.

AI for good sounds great. Does it work?

J-PAL researchers joined us for the 2025 ARUA international conference, with Sarah Kopper conducting a workshop on evaluating AI interventions, and Sam Carter delivering a keynote on the potential of AI to reduce poverty and inequality.
Read more