Reimagining ethical AI for African futures.
The vision of the AI Institute is a world where everybody benefits equitably from the transformative power of AI. Its mission is to provide an inspiring ecosystem for researchers and students to do excellent AI research, creating tools and opportunities to support the transition to a just society.
“We invite you to partner with us in the foundational phase of the UCT AI Institute. Your investment will accelerate cutting edge research, by Africa’s leading university, towards solving the continent and the world’s most urgent challenges.”
Professor Mosa Moshabela, Vice- Chancellor, University of Cape Town
AI Insights
Whose digital future?
Prof Payal Arora from Utrecht University visited University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Digital Media Sociology (DMS) Lab for a series of engagements exploring inclusive AI.
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Google grant boosts UCT's AI-driven scientific breakthroughs
UCT has secured US$1.6 million from Google.org to develop an artificial intelligence-powered platform that could help doctors make safer, more effective treatment decisions for African patients.
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Call for Papers | Illegal Markets and Their Legal Frontiers (SASE 2027, Glasgow)
Global Risk Governance co-lead Annette Hübschle is co-organising a mini-conference at SASE 2027 on how illicit wealth moves into, and is sustained by, legal economies. Abstracts are due 1 November 2026.
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VC shares insights on UCT’s adoption of AI
Prof Mosa Moshabela said UCT needed to come up with a framework on how to support students to use AI tools correctly.
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Reimagining Responsibility in the Age of AI
In August 2026, the Reimagining Responsibility retreat, co-hosted by UCT EthicsLab brought together participants from various backgrounds to discuss who is responsible when artificial intelligence causes harm?
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Applications Closed | Master's Fellowship in AI Governance and Harm Mapping
Applications Closed | Mapping AI-Related Harms and Governance Gaps to Inform a Scalable Harm Framework for African Settings | African Hub on AI Safety, Peace and Security (AI4D Programme) | 2026 – 2028
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