Latest news with #PwCSouthAfrica
Daily Maverick
5 days ago
- Business
- Daily Maverick
Daily Maverick partners with Cape Town summit to champion informed dialogue on AI
The new AI Empowered summit in August aims to make artificial intelligence accessible and accountable to ordinary professionals, educators, creatives and citizens – using AI to think bigger, move faster and lead faster. Daily Maverick is proud to announce its support for a new summit focused on making artificial intelligence (AI) accessible, actionable and relevant for South Africans. AI Empowered (AIE) will take place on 7 and 8 August 2025 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. How do we prepare for a future we don't fully understand? As AI accelerates into every part of our lives, South Africans need more than buzzwords. We need clarity, access and serious conversation. It's easy to feel like AI is something happening out there – in techland, in code, in jobs that don't look like yours. But AI is already shaping how we work, how we learn and how we're governed. And in a country like South Africa – where inequality, unemployment and institutional fragility run deep – it's not a trend to observe; it's a force to understand, urgently. PwC South Africa's 'Value in Motion' report estimates that AI could add R129-billion to the country's GDP by 2030, with Africa as a whole standing to gain up to R1.9-trillion. The sectors with the greatest potential impact? Healthcare, education, financial services, agriculture and government. But that future doesn't build itself. And if we don't engage critically with what AI is and what it isn't, we risk repeating the mistakes of every other digital divide. Bringing AI down to Earth That's what makes this summit worth noticing – not for its glitz, but for its grounding. Inspired by the Entrepreneurs' Organization Cape Town, AIE is attempting to make AI accessible and accountable to ordinary professionals, educators, creatives and citizens. It positions itself as a summit about humans, using AI to think bigger, move faster and lead faster. Over two days, AIE will host conversations that go beyond the hype and into the real questions facing South Africans and the world today. With input from local and global thinkers in ethics, policy, education, tech and law, AIE is not selling a product; it's opening a conversation. What's on the table? Yes, there'll be a programme – three stages, 1,500 attendees, keynote speeches, panels and workshops. There'll be big names like Western Cape premier Alan Winde, AI ethics advocate Nazareen Ebrahim and Shoprite CTO Chris Shortt. And, yes, there's a track on how AI is already transforming business strategy, law, creative industries and climate science. But the real value might be in the tone: less promise, more proof. Less marketing, more meaning. AI in a South African context According to the World Economic Forum's Future of Jobs report, 44% of core job skills are expected to change in the next five years due to automation and AI. South Africa, with its complex labour market and education challenges, can't afford to sleepwalk through that shift. At the same time, AI presents enormous opportunities for scale and reach. Already, homegrown innovation is using AI for language translation in education, telemedicine in rural clinics and agricultural optimisation in drought-stricken provinces. What's needed now is not just policy, but participation. Why Daily Maverick is watching closely At Daily Maverick, we don't partner lightly. We're here because we believe that a better-informed public is the foundation of any future worth having. And AI, like climate change or inequality, is now a civic issue, not just a technological one. Join the conversation If you're curious, cautious or just craving clarity. Because South Africa can't afford to wait for others to define the future.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Hybrid harmony: Streamlining business operations across South Africa
With hybrid work now the norm in South Africa, many businesses are still navigating the challenges of adapting to this new way of working. As hybrid work has become the prevailing business model in South Africa, many are still trying to iron out the challenges involved in adapting to the setup. A recent PwC South Africa report revealed that 59% of South Africans embrace hybrid work, despite employers' efforts to bring them fully back to the office. While this transformation has redefined how South African businesses function, it has also exposed significant gaps in IT infrastructure and people management. Many businesses struggle with geographically dispersed teams, real-time collaboration, and consistent performance across physical locations. System fragmentation remains one of the most pressing issues for hybrid teams. Departments use different platforms for communication, customer data, and task tracking, and they often lose, duplicate, or delay information. This lack of integration leads to poor version control and time-consuming processes, ultimately slowing down team achievement. Without streamlined data management, hybrid teams face difficulty sharing crucial information in real time. This fragmentation of IT systems not only hampers day-to-day workflows but also puts immense pressure on decision-makers. A Deloitte Africa report shows remote employees face decision-making delays due to ineffective communication channels. Without real-time visibility, hybrid teams struggle to coordinate tasks and stay aligned. Miscommunication, scattered updates, and the absence of centralized workflows hinder outcomes and reduce team efficiency. These inefficiencies have an enormous impact on small businesses because they can easily drain money, time, and momentum. Beyond processes, hybrid environments also affect company culture. Remote staff often miss out on spontaneous idea sharing and team bonding moments. This isolation can reduce morale, especially among new hires and younger professionals.
