Far from being a threat, Artificial Intelligence (AI) could grow productivity in South Africa and other countries by up to 40% by 2035, with a major impact on supply chains.
This is the view posited by Zaid Suleman, group commercial officer of network solution company EOH.
AI is an umbrella term for computer science and data analytics which hinges on the use of the hardware and software of technology to apply knowledge and data, and how we get it to think and behave to support and benefit human beings.
Said Suleman: “We are increasingly dependent on technology to create more efficiency within our lives and our business processes, driving economic growth. Credible analysis indicates that it could increase productivity by up to 40% by 2035.
“Eventually, what we have is an enhancement of automation and productivity, so our supply chains and economic growth should therefore multiply. Studies show a greater growth rate because of technology. Not simply because economies are changing, but because we can drive better outcomes that are more predictable in a shorter time”
AI and 4IR are interconnected. 4IR includes many technologies – cloud, AI, automation, the Internet of Things etc. It is about the convergence of data from various sources and deriving value from that data.
“How we use technologies lies in the hands of the users – the people and the leaders. So we could either race towards danger or we could utilise it in a productive manner that benefits people,” he said.
