• Wits University has announced the launch of the MIND Institute.
• It will serve as an African hub for AI research on the continent.
• It will also explore how AI interfaces with society from an ethical and policy perspective.

Wits University has this week announced the launch of the MIND Institute, or known by its longer name, the Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute. 

The tertiary institution notes that the newly launched facility seeks to lead Africa in pushing the fundamental AI research and create a better scientific understanding of intelligence in its many forms.

Added to this will be the development of cutting-edge technologies tailored to Africa’s unique challenges.

“The Wits MIND Institute also explores how AI interfaces with society from an ethical and policy perspective, shaping governance and ensuring that AI development is safe, inclusive, and beneficial to all,” it highlighted in a release to Hypertext.

“In addition, the Wits MIND Institute will collaborate with industry partners to develop high-value, innovative technologies, including large-scale AI models with applications in drug discovery, education, business, engineering, mining, material science and astronomy, amongst others,” it continued.

In order to deliver AI research capabilities, the Institute will collaborate with IBM on joint initiatives, combining each organisation’s expertise and innovation towards impactful projects. 

“Our collaboration with the Wits MIND Institute underscores the importance of fundamental AI research that not only advances technology but also reflects Africa’s unique needs and values. Together, we aim to accelerate innovation, foster local expertise, and ensure that AI contributes meaningfully to the social and economic transformation of Africa,” emphasised Dr Charity Wayua, director, IBM Research Africa.

The Wits MIND Institute is also engaging with market leaders across diverse sectors, including the tech industry, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and logistics, it confirmed.

“When most institutions, particularly locally, talk about AI, they often focus on applications. At the Wits MIND Institute, we care deeply about how we understand, and can advance, the fundamental science of AI itself to build the next generation of AI right here in South Africa,” explained Benjamin Rosman, director of the Wits MIND Institute and Professor in Artificial Intelligence and Robotics at Wits University.

“We aren’t just focused on machine learning or neuroscience; we’re examining intelligence from every angle, with questions such as: What are the processes underlying intelligence – whether in a human, an animal, or a machine? How do different people, animals and machines interact with each other? How can we take inspiration from natural intelligence to build more efficient machines?” he outlined.

To answer those questions, the Institute has 34 industry experts from a diverse range of fields such as computer science, engineering, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, anatomy, creative arts, anthropology, and governance as part of its inaugural Fellows Programme.

“This interdisciplinary team will drive the Institute’s mission, working in an environment that encourages the cross-pollination of ideas,” it added.

With AI evolving at a rapid rate, it will be interesting to see how the MIND Institute can help South Africa keep pace with its international peers, or overtake them in some instances.