JSE-listed Vodacom Group has launched a new AI partnership with the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and cloud computing platform Amazon Web Services (AWS) aimed at building South Africa's AI talent pipeline and strengthening collaboration between academia and industry.

Speaking at the launch of the Vodacom AI Lab at Vodacom World, in Johannesburg, on July 24, Vodacom Group CEO Shameel Joosub said Africa had an opportunity not only to participate in the latest global AI developments, but to help shape it by developing its own talent, innovation and solutions.

He added that democratising AI meant ensuring the technology was accessible to people using non-smartphones, while also enabling small businesses to use AI to improve productivity and competitiveness.

Joosub further noted that the launch of the AI Lab represented another milestone in Vodacom's ambition to become Africa's leading “AI-first” organisation, while creating stronger links between universities and industry to develop future digital talent.

"We are living through one of the most significant technology shifts of our generation. AI is transforming industries, reshaping economies and changing the way we live and work.

“But while AI is advancing at an extraordinary pace, one thing has become increasingly clear – technology alone will not determine who succeeds in this new era. People will, skills will and partnerships will. In that context, we want to democratise AI and make sure we can make it available to everyone," he said.

Joosub also argued that Africa was well positioned to become a global AI hub, provided it invested in developing the necessary skills from schools through to universities.

Meanwhile, he added that the partnership between Vodacom, UJ and AWS aimed to bridge the gap between academia and industry by connecting postgraduate academic research with real-world business challenges, giving students access to industry projects and practical AI experience.

With this consideration in mind, Joosub noted that this collaboration would help build South Africa's AI talent pipeline and enable Vodacom to recruit graduates with relevant AI and digital skills.

Further, he said universities had historically produced exceptional graduates while industries continued searching for specialised AI expertise, creating an opportunity for closer collaboration centred on solving real-world business challenges.

"We believe Africa has an extraordinary opportunity not only to participate in the global AI revolution, but to help shape it. The future of AI on this continent should be built by African talent, built by African innovation and focused on solving African challenges.

Becoming an AI-first organisation is, therefore, about much more than adopting new technology. It's about investing in the people who will build the partnerships that will strengthen it, and the innovation ecosystem that will ensure Africa remains globally competitive for generations to come," Joosub explained.

Moreover, he said AI solutions should also be developed in African languages to ensure these technologies benefited a broader segment of society.

Beyond supporting Vodacom's own digital transformation, he said the company envisaged the partnership becoming a model for AI capability development across Africa.

"Our ambition extends well beyond today's announcement. We believe this partnership can become a blueprint for AI capability development across Africa, helping to create a sustainable pipeline of AI talent while strengthening collaboration between universities, industry and technology partners across the continent," Joosub concluded.