A Landmark Appointment for South African Academia

In a historic development for South African higher education, Professor Vukosi Marivate from the University of Pretoria (UP) has been appointed to the United Nations' Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (IISP-AI). This marks the first global scientific body dedicated exclusively to AI, established by the UN General Assembly in February 2026. The panel comprises 40 experts selected from over 2,600 applicants across more than 140 countries, representing diverse UN regions and expertise areas including technical AI, policy, ethics, and societal impacts.

Prof Marivate's selection underscores UP's leadership in AI research within South Africa and positions the university at the forefront of international AI governance discussions. As Director of the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) and holder of the ABSA-UP Chair of Data Science, he brings invaluable African perspectives to global deliberations on AI's opportunities and risks.

This appointment arrives amid growing emphasis on AI in South African universities, where institutions like UP are expanding programs to address national skills shortages. For aspiring academics and researchers, opportunities abound in higher education jobs focused on emerging technologies.

Who is Professor Vukosi Marivate?

Born in Ga-Rankuwa township north of Pretoria, Prof Vukosi Marivate embodies the transformative power of South African higher education. He earned his BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), followed by a PhD in Computer Science from Rutgers University in 2009 as a Fulbright Science and Technology Scholar. Today, as a Professor of Computer Science at UP, he specializes in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly natural language processing (NLP) for low-resource African languages.

His career highlights include leading the Data Science for Social Impact research group, tackling real-world challenges in public safety, energy, utilities, and health. Prof Marivate has received accolades such as the UP EBIT Exceptional Young Researcher Award and recognition as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

• Co-founder of Lelapa AI, an African startup developing AI solutions 'for Africans by Africans'.
• Chief investigator at Masakhane Research Foundation, building NLP datasets for languages like isiZulu, Sepedi, and Setswana.
• Co-founder of Deep Learning Indaba, Africa's premier grassroots AI conference empowering local researchers.

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The UN Independent International Scientific Panel on AI: Purpose and Structure

The IISP-AI, akin to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) for climate, provides evidence-based assessments on AI's global impacts. It identifies emerging risks, contributes to early-warning systems, and informs the UN's Global Dialogue on AI Governance. The panel's inaugural report is slated for July 2026 in Geneva.

Co-chaired by Yoshua Bengio (Canada, Turing Award winner) and Maria Ressa (Philippines, Nobel laureate), the 40 members span academia, industry, and civil society. Prof Marivate represents Africa alongside experts like Adji Bousso Dieng (Senegal) and Girmaw Abebe Tadesse (Ethiopia).

This structure ensures balanced, multi-perspective input, vital for addressing AI biases in underrepresented regions.

Explore research jobs to join similar global efforts.

Pioneering African-Centric AI Initiatives

Prof Marivate's impact extends through foundational organizations. Deep Learning Indaba has hosted annual conferences since 2017, training thousands of African AI practitioners and fostering collaborations that rival global events. Masakhane has created open datasets for 20+ African languages, bridging the representation gap where only 0.1% of web content is in African tongues.

Lelapa AI develops local language models, attracting talent back to the continent amid brain drain concerns in SA higher ed.

• Indaba: Strengthens AI ecosystem via mentorship and knowledge exchange.
• Masakhane: Builds NLP tools, enabling applications in health and education.
• Lelapa: Commercializes AI for social good, creating jobs.

These efforts align with SA's need for AI talent; universities like UP offer specialized courses. Visit lecturer jobs for openings in AI education.

AfriDSAI and UP's AI Leadership in South Africa

At UP, AfriDSAI drives contextually relevant AI, from African language models to social impact analytics. UP ranks No. 1 in SA for AI research per EduRank, with initiatives like the Data Science Law Lab exploring IP and governance. Recent projects include AI translation for research accessibility and partnerships with Meta on policy.

UP Vice-Chancellor Prof Francis Petersen hailed the appointment: "This reflects our commitment to responsible AI."

Part of the Centre for Artificial Intelligence Research (CAIR) network with UCT, UKZN, and others, UP bolsters national AI capacity.

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Addressing South Africa's AI Skills Gap Through Higher Education

South Africa faces a critical AI skills shortage, with youth unemployment at 45% and demand surging in cloud, data analytics, and ML. Higher ed institutions are responding: Wits offers MSc in AI and Robotics; UJ has Ethics for AI short courses; Mancosa a Postgraduate Diploma in AI.

TUT-Intel studies highlight readiness gaps, urging curriculum alignment. Partnerships like DHET-Microsoft aim to train thousands digitally.

• Expand AI/ML degrees at TVETs and unis.
• Incorporate ethics and African contexts.
• Foster industry-university ties for placements.

Bridge your skills with academic CV tips.

Prof Marivate's Vision: Quotes and Perspectives

"I’m honoured... to share experiences from Africa," says Marivate. He stresses socio-technical challenges: "African languages require investment in digitisation and value." Warns against AI as 'silver bullet,' advocating regulation to curb biases and exploitation in supply chains.

This resonates with SA's context, where AI can tackle 'wicked problems' like poverty but risks amplifying inequalities without inclusive governance.

Read more on South African higher ed news.

Implications for Students and Careers in AI

Marivate's feat inspires SA students amid NSFAS challenges and enrollment surges at UJ (450k apps). AI programs promise high employability; median data scientist salary exceeds R800k.

Actionable steps:

• Pursue UP/Wits AI masters.
• Join Indaba for networking.
• Contribute to Masakhane datasets.

Secure roles via faculty jobs or research assistant positions.

Photo by Adi Yusuf on Unsplash

Future Outlook: Shaping Global AI from Pretoria

The panel's work will influence UN policies, ensuring Africa's voice in governance. For SA unis, expect boosted funding, international partnerships, and talent attraction. UP's momentum positions it as Africa's AI hub.

Prof Marivate: "Africans must choose directions in AI revolutions."

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