There is much talk of how the 4th Industrial Revolution, could boost our tech capabilities, and could contribute some $15.7 trillion to global GDP by 2030.
Artificial intelligence (Al) scares anyone who thinks machines will replace humans, and lessen job opportunities, but Professor Tshilidzi Marwala, Rector of the UNU and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, shared insights on how Artificial Intelligence can contribute to the achievement of sustainable development goals in Africa, back in May 2023, at the University of Ghana.
Marwala said Al, could be used in the current energy crisis, to analyze Eskom power plant data, to identify inefficiencies in their operations, predict equipment failures and optimise maintenance activity scheduling to reduce downtime and maximise output.
AI could also be used in the maintenance process and in refurbishment plans by providing real-time prediction of equipment failures and maintenance requirements.
Two days ago, the Al- Innovation Grand Challenge, an artificial intelligence community, was launched by the UN Climate Change Technology Executive Committee, with the COP28 Presidency, to support the development of the solution for developing countries.
Simon Stiell, UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, said at the launch of the initiative,
“we are seeing increasing evidence that artificial intelligence can prove an invaluable instrument in tackling climate change. While we remain mindful of the associated challenges and risks of AI, the Innovation Grand Challenge is a promising step forward in harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and empowering innovators in developing countries.”
H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, United Arab Emirates, said: “Harnessing artificial intelligence as a strategic asset to mitigate climate change involves integrating it into national policies and plans. This integration facilitates the use of data analytics to align policy with real-time climate data, thereby enhancing its efficacy and advancing technological development and scientific discovery in the field of energy. These measures and policies should not be viewed in isolation, but rather as a unified global initiative, acknowledging that climate change transcends geographical boundaries and requires concerted global efforts.”
Artificial intelligence is already instrumental in climate change strategies, a statement from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) said, it is used to predict climate patterns and extreme weather events, improve crop yields, reduce water usage or optimize renewable energy systems.
The event, which brought a high level International delegation, was organized under the Technology Mechanism Initiative on Artificial Intelligence for Climate Action, which examines the potential of AI to scale up climate solutions in developing countries, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing states.
The Chairs of the Technology Mechanism, Stig Svenningsen and Erwin Rose, called for new collaborations and partnerships that help deliver concrete results, both on policy and implementation, under the #AI4ClimateAction Initiative.
AI and Big data are at the forefront of transforming South Africa’s financial, healthcare, agricultural and sectors.
A research study by Wits researchers found machine learning and artificial intelligence, can “help catapult South Africa’s energy distribution into the future.”