Trust does not hold itself up. That was the starting premise of a panel that I joined at the inaugural LexisNexis Future of Law Conference in Sandton last week, under the banner “The Architecture of Trust: Accountability in the Intelligent Age”. The organisers put it well: trust rests on structures – codes of conduct, governance…
The World Health Organization (WHO) today launched Together for Science and Health, a new global movement uniting more than 240 organizations behind a shared commitment to strengthen trust in science and harness its power to improve health and development. With an official launch on World Science Day for Peace and Development, the movement rallies scientists,…
Imagine telling your phone that you want a quiet boutique hotel near a city centre, below a certain price, with a decent breakfast and late checkout. A few seconds later, an AI assistant compares the options, explains why each one fits and helps complete the booking. This is no longer hypothetical. In late August this…
The integration of blockchain technology has evolved beyond crypto-currencies to solve real-world problems of trust, transparency, traceability and information sharing across several supply chains. As part of efforts to unlock new opportunities and discuss case studies of blockchain solutions for businesses and organisations, the South Africa-Switzerland Bilateral Research Chair in Blockchain Technology at the University…
Across sub-Saharan Africa, revenue authorities are increasingly changing how they engage with small businesses. The traditional approach involved audits, penalties and inspections. But more recently many are investing in taxpayer education, “door-to-door” visits, and focusing on ways to make it easier to comply. The logic driving the change is that auditing every small trader is…
Less than a month before the UN climate conference COP31 opens in Antalya, Türkiye, representatives of three successive summit presidencies gathered to address a pressing question: How can the world restore trust in climate action when the consequences of a warming planet are already being felt? The devastation in Nepal offered a stark reminder of…
Building a professional police identity based on a strong ethical commitment is as important as discipline and accountability. There is no question that the South African Police Service (SAPS) is in trouble. Whether measured by low public trust or the evidence of organised criminal infiltration presented to the Madlanga Commission, it is clear that serious…
A trusted, frictionless experience is central to any fintech’s pitch. Without it, platforms fail. If the experience is anything less than integrated, secure and trustworthy, customers will switch to another fintech without hesitation. The problem is that too many fintechs think that offering the same thing and delivering on it is enough. It’s not. Customers…
AI-driven fraud is rising across Africa, with criminals exploiting human behaviour and trust rather than system vulnerabilities, says Thalia Pillay, CEO of Orca Fraud. In an interview with ITWeb Africa editor Samuel Mungadze, Pillay says criminals are deploying increasingly sophisticated AI-powered tactics to circumvent security controls. Artificial intelligence (AI)-driven fraud is on the rise across…
In mid-July, the US Army activated Delta Company of the 7th Psychological Operations (PSYOP) Battalion under 3rd Special Forces Group. The unit has taken on the informal name ‘Drongo’, a nod to an African bird known for its ability to vocally mimic other species to drive off competitors. Its declared purpose is to support US…
