Latest news with #ArthurGoldstuck
The Citizen
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Citizen
Businesses embrace GenAI in SA – but strategy, skills lagging
This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. According to the findings, South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations. Picture: iStock A new report has revealed that the informal and unregulated usage of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) by businesses in South Africa poses a threat to both them and their employees. The report, produced by World Wide Worx and Dell Technologies, surveyed over 100 medium and large-sized enterprises nationwide. Gen AI According to the findings released on Thursday, South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations, but most are doing so without formal strategies, dedicated leadership, or the infrastructure required to maximise value and minimise risk. This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. World Wide Worx CEO and principal analyst of the study, Arthur Goldstuck, said that in a rush to adopt the fast-growing technology, there is a need for organisations to take the foundational steps of planning and governance. 'Many organisations are simply unaware of the gaps they're leaving in their systems, said Goldstuck. 'The risk goes beyond the technical, and includes reputational, ethical, and operational vulnerability. While the first step of technology adoption is well underway, our survey demonstrates there is room for operational growth.' ALSO READ: WATCH: 'Gen AI solves problems that were too expensive to solve' – Cyborg Anthropologist Findings According to the report's findings, AI adoption has brought clear benefits to the organisations using it, with 86% of GenAI users citing increased competitiveness as a result of using AI tools. The report also showed that 83% reported improved productivity, while 66% saw enhanced customer service. On the other hand, the report raised the alarm over 'shadow AI' – the unsanctioned use of GenAI by employees without oversight. It showed that 32% of businesses correctly report informal or unregulated GenAI use, while a further 20% report a mix of official and unofficial GenAI use. 84% say oversight is an important or very important factor in the success of GenAI deployment. Caution The report cautioned that South Africa could find itself divided by the ability to use GenAI wisely and scale deployments as the technology matures. 'There's a real risk of a GenAI disconnect in South Africa between those who use GenAI deliberately, strategically and ethically, and those who use it blindly or not at all,' Goldstuck said. Goldstuck said as companies race to embed GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT into business functions, most are overlooking deeper transformation through infrastructure, skills and internal capability. He said holistic AI infrastructure, combined with people and processes, is critical to scaling AI deployments and clearly connecting them to tangible return on investment. ALSO READ: Organisations encouraged to empower employees with AI fluency
IOL News
17-07-2025
- Business
- IOL News
South African enterprises are rapidly adopting Generative AI but without formal strategies, study finds
IOL South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations. Image: Pexels South African enterprises are rapidly integrating Generative AI (GenAI) into their operations, but most are doing so without formal strategies, dedicated leadership, or the infrastructure required to maximise value and minimise risk. This is the key finding of the South African Generative AI Roadmap 2025, based on a study by World Wide Worx in collaboration with Dell Technologies and Intel. Arthur Goldstuck, the CEO of World Wide Worx and principal analyst of the study, released the report on Thursday. The report, which surveys over 100 mid-sized and large enterprises across industry sectors, shows that GenAI adoption has climbed from 45% of large enterprises in 2024 to 67% in 2025. This dramatic rise positions GenAI as the fastest-moving digital trend in the country. However, in a rush to adopt the fast-growing technology, there is a need for organisations to take the foundational steps of planning and governance. Doing so will more clearly connect AI to people and processes and help organisations reap genuine, sustaining return on investment. 'Many organisations are simply unaware of the gaps they're leaving in their systems,' said Goldstuck 'The risk goes beyond the technical, and includes reputational, ethical, and operational vulnerability. While the first step of technology adoption is well underway, our survey demonstrates there is room for operational growth.' According to the report's findings, AI adoption has brought clear benefits to the organisations using it: Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading 86% of GenAI users cite increased competitiveness as a result of using AI tools. 83% report improved productivity. 66% see enhanced customer service. Yet, behind these numbers lies an operational gap: Only 14% of organisations have a formal company-wide GenAI strategy. Just 13% have implemented governance or ethical frameworks in the form of guardrails for safety, privacy and bias mitigation. 39% cite high implementation cost as the primary barrier to GenAI adoption. AI maturity requires foundations 'The roadmap aims to help guide stakeholders to fully understand the scope of GenAI, and to build transparent strategies that deliver on its promise without placing enterprises at risk,' says Goldstuck. 'What's most startling is that many companies think using a GenAI tool is the same as having an AI strategy.' As companies race to embed GenAI tools like Microsoft Copilot and ChatGPT into business functions, most are overlooking deeper transformation through infrastructure, skills and internal capability. Holistic AI infrastructure, combined with people and processes, is critical to scaling AI deployments and clearly connecting them to tangible return on investment. Shadow AI The report raises the alarm about 'shadow AI' – the unsanctioned use of GenAI by employees without oversight. Currently: 32% of businesses report informal or unregulated GenAI use. of businesses report informal or unregulated GenAI use. A further 20% report a mix of official and unofficial GenAI use. further report a mix 84% say oversight is an important or very important success factor for GenAI deployment. Critical governance measures include clear principles for oversight, accountability, and responsible use. It enables organisations to build trust, reduce risk, and drive long-term value. 'The current use of GenAI is largely taking place in a regulatory and ethical vacuum,' Goldstuck warns. 'The longer this continues, the more harm can be caused, to both businesses and individuals, before these guardrails are in place. 'Without governance, organisations are walking blindfolded into a future shaped by AI. That might be exciting, but it is not sustainable.' The roadmap also identifies two areas of opportunity: Business and Societal impact : Over 75% of respondents have no measures in place to monitor or reduce the energy use and footprint of GenAI. Skills development : A massive 87% of businesses have committed to GenAI upskilling or training of employees. The report cautions that South Africa could find itself divided by the ability to use GenAI wisely and scale deployments as the technology matures. Goldstuck said, 'There's a real risk of a GenAI disconnect in South Africa between those who use GenAI deliberately, strategically and ethically, and those who use it blindly or not at all.' BUSINESS REPORT
The Citizen
22-04-2025
- The Citizen
WhatsApp account hacked? This is what you need and must do
South Africans have been warned about a hacking campaign by criminals taking over people's WhatsApp accounts. This high number of users and the platform's popularity mean it is a popular playground for criminals. Picture: EPA-EFE/HAYOUNG JEON South Africans have been warned about a hacking campaign by criminals taking over people's accounts WhatsApp is the most popular mobile messaging platform in South Africa, with 93.9% of active social media users using the app, followed by Facebook at 88.6%, TikTok at 76.9% and Instagram at 71.4%, according to WhatsApp The high number of users and the platform's popularity make it a popular playground for criminals. Suspicious or scam messages can occur when an unsaved WhatsApp user tries to trick you into sharing personal or financial information. Stolen WhatsApp accounts can be used for spam distribution and scam schemes, prompting users to be wary of cybercriminals who use various methods to gain access to them. ALSO READ: Time to upgrade: These are some of the smartphones that no longer support WhatsApp Precautions Arthur Goldstuck, founder of World Wide Worx, advised South Africans to be cautious when protecting their social media accounts, particularly on WhatsApp. 'WhatsApp hacking is one of the most common forms of getting into people's identities because people tend to be too trusting of anyone who enters that very personal communication space. 'E-mail fishing is still the most common way of compromising someone's credentials, but people are getting more and more savvy to that, and the message has got through that you don't just click on any link that anyone sends you. But in WhatsApp, people are still not used to the idea that someone can hack your account or take over your identity,' Goldstuck said. WhatsApp hacking According to Kaspersky, cybercriminals can take control of your WhatsApp account in one of two ways. They either add another device to your account using the 'Linked devices' feature or re-register your account on their device as if you'd bought a new phone. In the former case, you continue using WhatsApp as usual, but the criminals also have access to it, including your recent conversations. In the second case, you lose access to your account, and when you try to log in, WhatsApp notifies you that your account is in use on another device. The attackers can control your account, but won't have access to your past conversations. ALSO READ: WATCH: WhatsApp rolls out update with refreshed design for iOS and Android What to do if your WhatsApp account has been hacked Make sure the SIM card linked to your WhatsApp account is inserted in your smartphone. Open WhatsApp on the smartphone. If it opens normally Go to the WhatsApp settings: Settings on iPhone, or the additional menu (three dots) on Android. Tap Linked devices. Tap each device listed on this page. Tap Log Out. This will disconnect all additional devices from your account and cut off the attackers. If the messenger tells you that you're logged out and need to register Enter your phone number. Request a one-time registration code. Wait for an SMS or a voice call with the code. Enter the received code. Restoration If your account was protected with a two-step verification PIN, after entering the one-time registration code, enter your PIN as well. WhatsApp may offer to restore your chats and settings from a backup in iCloud, Google Drive, or local storage. Accept! If you hadn't previously set a two-step verification PIN, but WhatsApp requests it after you enter the one-time code, the attackers may have set a PIN to prevent you from regaining access to your account. The PIN can be reset using the Forgot PIN E-mail address If an email address is linked to your WhatsApp account, you'll receive a PIN reset link instantly. Go to your email, open the latest message from WhatsApp, tap the link inside, and then tap Confirm. After this, you can return to WhatsApp and set a new PIN. If you hadn't linked an email address, you can still request a PIN reset, but you'll have to wait a week before the PIN is removed. During this time, your WhatsApp account will remain inaccessible. After a week, you can log back in to your account following the instructions above. Once you've completed these steps, the attackers will be disconnected from your account. ALSO READ: WATCH: Meta releases new AI assistant on WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram Protection To protect your WhatsApp account, enable two-step verification in WhatsApp and memorise your PIN — it's not a one-time code. To do this, go to Settings → Account → Two-step verification. Never, ever share your PIN or one-time registration codes with anyone. Only scammers ask for these details. WhatsApp recently introduced support for passkeys. If you enable this option (Settings → Account → Passkeys), logging in to your account will require biometric authentication, and instead of PIN codes, your smartphone will store a long cryptographic key. This is a very secure option, but it may not be convenient if you frequently change devices and switch between Android and iOS. If you get a suspicious call, hang up the call or stop replying to the user. If you can't verify the contact's identity, do not share any personal or financial information. Block the user to stop them from contacting you, and report them to WhatsApp. Sim swap scam Make sure you haven't fallen victim to a SIM swap scam. Contact your mobile carrier — preferably in person — and verify that no duplicate SIM cards have been issued for your number recently. Also, ensure that there is no unauthorised call forwarding set up on your number. Cancel any suspicious changes and ask the staff about additional security measures for your SIM card. These may include prohibiting SIM-related actions without your presence, requiring an additional password for authentication, or other security measures. NOW READ: Zuckerberg downplays Meta's alleged abuse of power to acquire Instagram and WhatsApp [VIDEO]
