Communications minister Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi could be summoned to parliament to account for the AI-generated hallucinations that forced the embarrassing withdrawal of South Africa’s draft national AI policy. The ANC study group on communications & digital technologies late on Tuesday called for the minister to appear before parliament’s portfolio committee…
Solly Malatsi, communications and digital technologies minister. Minister Solly Malatsi yesterday officially informed the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Communications and Digital Technologies about his decision to pull the plug on South Africa’s draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy. As a result, the minister also requested time before Parliament’s oversight committee to explain the events that…
Communications minister Solly Malatsi. Photo: Lerato Sepotokele/DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi is facing calls from across the political divide to withdraw South Africa’s draft national artificial intelligence policy after News24 revealed at the weekend that the document contains at least six academic citations almost certainly fabricated by an AI tool. Update: The draft policy has…
Solly Malatsi, communications and digital technologies minister. Communications minister Solly Malatsi has decided to withdraw South Africa’s draft National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy, citing integrity as the reason behind the move. This, after a News24 report at the weekend uncovered fake and made-up research used to draft the country’s AI framework. The news outlet stated that several…
Solly Malatsi. Image: DCDT Communications minister Solly Malatsi has withdrawn South Africa’s draft National AI Policy following revelations that it contained fictitious academic references, in what appears to be a case of unverified AI-generated citations making their way into official government policy. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, Malatsi said the withdrawal was necessary…
Communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi. (Image source: GCIS) The policy directive on the role of equity equivalent investment programmes (EEIPs) in issuing telecommunications licences is still under review by the authority. So says communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi, speaking on 702’s The Clement Manyathela Show this week. The minister discussed various…
Communications minister Solly Malatsi Communications minister Solly Malatsi has run out of patience with Icasa over why the communications minister hasn’t allegedly yet responded in detail to his policy direction requiring it to review its licensing rules around black economic empowerment. The minister, a senior member of the DA in the government of national unity,…
Communications and digital technologies minister Solly Malatsi. Communications minister Solly Malatsi has recommended the approval of Dell Technologies’ equity equivalent investment programme (EEIP) application. The application was made to minister Parks Tau, in his capacity as executive authority at the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC), which facilitates and is the final arbiter for…
South Africa has a curious habit of legislating fantasies and then acting surprised when the real economy ignores them. The now-defunct monopoly of the South African Post Office over sub-1kg parcels is a perfect example of this. On paper, the monopoly existed; in practice, it died years ago. Communications minister Solly Malatsi has merely done…
Communications minister Solly Malatsi last week gazetted amendments to the Postal Services Act that have effectively removed the Post Office’s monopoly on the delivery of sub-1kg parcels. The rule allowing the Post Office to hang onto its monopoly had been extended multiple times, with the last extension provided by former communications minister Mondli Gungubele –…
