Issuu

4th QUARTER 2026 | ISSUE 27

SYNAPSE Africa's only AI Trade & Innovation Magazine THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICA AI ASSOCIATION

3400+ DELEGATES MAKE AFRICA’S LARGEST AI EVENT A GREAT SUCCESS AI EXPO AFRICA IN PICTURES FRENCH EMBASSY SA COLLAB ROLE OF SLMS IN CONTACT CENTRES CONDUCTING YOUR AI SYMPHONY

SAVE THE DATE... AI EXPO AFRICA 9TH EDITION 28th-29th October 2026 at SCC JHB

GUEST EDITORS REGIONAL EDITORS

Natasha Ochiel (Kenya)

Co-Founder | CEO The AI Centre of Excellence natasha@aiceafrica.com

Darlington Akogo (Ghana)

CEO, minoHealth AI / KaraAgro AI & Member of United Nations ITU & WHO Focus Group on AI For Health

natasha-ochiel

n a bid to champion Artificial Intelligence in Africa, she co-founded the AI Centre of Excellence that aims to build sustainable value for AI in Africa by building capacity, building demand and building AI solutions through the Centre in Kenya.

INTERNATIONAL EDITOR

Deon Van Zyl (Norway) Senior System Developer Nordic Semiconductor

deonvanzyl

ii SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

darlingtonakogo

arlington Akogo is a global leader in Artificial Intelligence. He's the Founder and Director of Artificial Intelligence at GUDRA, and its subsidiaries; minoHealth; an AI Healthtech company based in Ghana.

Naomi Molefe

MSc, Manager: Strategic Sourcing and Research at Discovery & Co-Founder & Chapter Director Women In Big Data, South Africa

naomimolefe

aomi is the co-Founder and Chapter Director for women in Big Data SA; a registered NPO that is part of a global community of 17 000 women. The learning community works with strategic partners to cultivate tangible opportunities for women, unlock latent potential through accessible training and act as a catalyst for the advancement of women in Big Data fields.

or 25 years, I have been an accomplished IT professional who is skilled in multiple languages with a strong background in development, security, digital forensics, automation, AI, management, and teaching. Through my work, I have been exposed to various industries, influenced public opinion, and networked with innovative leaders. As a roving Guest Editor, I write about new technologies that are reshaping the world such as Artificial Intelligence, VR & AR, Cybersecurity, Web3 and more.

Read more editions 1st QUARTER 2022 | ISSUE 15

SYNAPSE

AI TECH INVESTMENT IN AFRICA

TALKING THE LANGUAGE OF AI IN AFRICA

Africa’s 4IR Trade & Innovation Magazine

reaches new heights INSTADEEP

Raises $100M

2nd QUARTER 2022 | ISSUE 16

SYNAPSE VOXCROFT ANALYTICS

Raises $2 Million

Africa’s 4IR Trade & Innovation Magazine

LANAFRICA

creates centralised language hub

GOOGLE adds 10 African languages

AFRICAN TECH

AI LAWYER

Raised $4bn in 2021

helps Kenyans gain access to justice

GAUTENG SOUTH AFRICA,

BONANG.AI

the new Silicon Valley of Africa?

Fights Crime in the City

AI EXPO AFRICA 2022

JOIN AFRICA’S LARGEST B2B AI EVENT

MOVES TO JOHANNEBURG

3rd QUARTER 2022 | ISSUE 17

SYNAPSE Africa’s 4IR Trade & Innovation Magazine

WELCOME TO THE AI TECH CAPITAL OF AFRICA BLUEPRISM LANAFRICA

4th QUARTER 2022 | ISSUE 18

SYNAPSE Africa’s 4IR Trade & Innovation Magazine

2022 SEES BREAKTHROUGH GROWTH OF AFRICAN AI COMMUNITY DSN Unveils AIpowered On-demand learning

Employee Experience creates centralised Boosted by Advanced language hub Automation

GOOGLE adds 10 NETHERLANDS African languages AI that EMBASSY

SOUTH AFRICA

To Launch Artificial Intelligence institute

Champions Inclusion AI LAWYER

ARM Extends Partnership Network in Africa

helps Kenyans SWITZERLAND

gain access toFruits Harvesting the justice of the AI Summer

Meta AI Develops

BONANG.AI tinyML is the next Fights in wave ofCrime Machine Learning the City

model to translate 55 African Languages

AI EXPO EXPO AI AFRICA 2022 2022 AFRICA

5TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION -

JOIN AFRICA’S LARGEST CELEBRATING THE RETURN B2B AI EVENTEVENTS TO IN-PERSON

AI AI EXPO EXPO AFRICA AFRICA 2022 2022 POST SHOW EDITION -

JOIN AFRICA’S LARGEST LARGEST GATHERING HAILED B2B AI EVENT A MASSIVE SUCCESS

WELCOME FROM THE EDITOR

W Dr Nick Bradshaw Editor & CEO AI Media Group

nickbradshaw

ick is a Tech focused Executive / Entrepreneur helping clients, communities, practitioners & start-ups understand the value of Artificial Intelligence, Automation & Digital solutions in EMEA region. With 25 years experience in Europe, North America & Africa Nick has worked with a diverse set of Multi $bn global clients seeking to deploy and mature Enterprise grade software & cloud solutions. He is founder of the AI Media Group a new hybrid media, events, consulting & trade community offering clients insights into the growing 4IR opportunity in Africa. AI Media publish Synapse Magazine and run Africa’s largest Enterprise AI Trade Show – AI Expo Africa."

ABOUT SYNAPSE MAGAZINE

Synapse Magazine chronicles the 4th Industrial Revolution as it unfolds in Africa and plays a vital part in connecting the members of this rapidly growing trade community across the region. With a global readership, it puts Africa centre stage with a clear focus on the African 4IR innovation & investment narrative. We cover a range of technologies including; artificial intelligence (AI), intelligent automation (IA), robotic process automation (RPA), internet of things (IoT), big data, analytics & devices, as well as emerging standards, ethics and privacy concerns. Now entering its 6th year of publication, this unique quarterly trade publication is FREE to read on the ISSUU platform.

elcome to the Post Show Edition of Synapse Magazine, the official publication of the South African AI Association.

This is the 27th publication of our ground breaking free to read magazine. 2025 is almost done but the AI landscape has radically changed over this period with even talk of an AI Bubble – its been quite a ride so far. The 8th Edition of Africa’s Largest AI event – AI Expo Africa played host to the 1st UN ITU AI4Good Impact Africa Summit dedicated to fostering innovation and partnerships within the AI for Good landscape. The entire gathering hosted 3400+ delegates and was a massive success! As with previous events we are again ran our successful CPD certified AI Skills workshops sessions over the 3 days and all our CxO Round Tables were sold out. Besides the Enterprise buyer / supplier opportunities we showcased, we hosted 60 AI startups and 38 investors. We held the ITU Innovation Factory Challenge and also the ITU Youth Robotics Challenge – a great end to the year for all concerned. Planning for AI Expo Africa 2026 is well underway and reverts back to our normal 2 day show next year at the SCC Sandton, JHB, South Africa. Same great venue and same great format. Tickets will go on sale 1st March, speaking submissions are NOW open and the 2026 prospectus is also available should your organisation wish to support the event. DON’T FORGET Join the South African AI Association, to secure your FREE membership here >> https://saaiassociation.co.za/ and check out the SA AI Association’s “Start your Journey in Responsible AI” FREE training and resources >> https://saaiassociation.co.za/start-your-journey-in-ai/ with content, training, guides, communities to help kickstart your adoption of Responsible AI. We look forward to seeing you in 2026!!

PUBLISHER AI Media Group Web www.aimediagroup.co.za EDITOR Nick Bradshaw GUEST EDITORS Natasha Ochiel (Kenya) Darlington Akogo (Ghana) Naomi Molefe (South Africa) Deon Van Zyl (Global)

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES enquiries@aiexpoafrica.com ACCOUNTS PAYABLE & ADMIN Mia Muylaert mia.muylaert@aiexpoafrica.com LAYOUT, DESIGN & PRINT Karin Liebenberg iCandy Design Email: karinl@icandydesign.co.za

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

iii iii

EDITION

Connect

Learn

Purchase

Transform

Grow

Invest

www.aiexpoafrica.com

Contents SYNAPSE | ISSUE 27 | 4th QUARTER 2026 2

p2 Johannesburg Welcomed 3400+ Delegates @ 8th Edition AI Event

Johannesburg Welcomed 3400+ DELEGATES @ 8th Edition AI Event 4 Flash Back to AI Expo Africa 2025 15 The Role of SLMs in Contact Centre AI Risk Management Strategies 19 Pinnacle AI Services 24 The Real Bottleneck: Why AI in South Africa Is Being Held Back by Its Data 28 France, a Partner of AI Ecosystems in Southern Africa 31 The Elements of your AI Symphony 34 Protoclone and Neo Gamma: a New Era of Man-Machine Interaction

p4 Flash back to AI Expo Africa 2025

p24 The Real Bottleneck: Why AI in South Africa Is Being Held Back by Its Data

contact centre operators to start thinking about AI an enterprise-wide lens.

ligence (AI) is transforming contact centres, offering a wide range of applications efficiency, improve customer experience (CX), empower agents, and reduce costs.

intelligent virtual agents and chatbots, Interactive

The role of SLMs in Structured data provides the clarity, consistency,Centre and machine-AI Contact readability necessary for automation, decision-making, predictable Risk Management outcomes, and integration, such as CRM and CSM solutions. Strategeies Structured data securely stored in a centralised location is also

(IVR) tools, and agent-assist solutions like AI copilots.

critical, as it ensures AI language models can ingest data and access

k-end applications include workforce management

knowledge that shapes understanding of the business’s offering.

ages of discovery.

te in a crowded market, looking to find a niche by

ons for different points in the customer journey and

tional tasks. Front-end solutions include automated

assurance (QA), knowledge management, sentiment

curity and fraud detection solutions. The hype around

The impact of structured data.

g AI, like conversational AI, generative AI (GenAI) and,

This is necessary to support conversational AI for basic responses

gentic AI, complicates the decision-making process for

to customer prompts or queries, GenAI to action upstream and

ng to deploy these technologies. Given the options and

downstream tasks, and agentic AI, which is goal-driven and action-

e AI to remain competitive, many operators embrace

oriented, able to make decisions about the outcome it believes the customer wants. For example, operators can automate simple

p15 p31 Taking Your Vision and Making The Elements of your AI itSymphony a Symphony You have the vision - the melody of a smarter, more innovative, more efficient business. But a melody on its own can’t fill the concert hall. To create something extraordinary, it needs to become a symphony with each player aligned, each part in tune. That’s where Bonisa AI comes in: the partner that brings every element together, turning your idea into a performance that delivers real impact, from first note to final ovation.

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

JOHANNESBURG IS AFRICA'S AI TECH CAPITAL

JOHANNESBURG WELCOMED 3400+ DELEGATES @ 8TH EDITION AI EVENT Africa’s largest Artificial Intelligence & Intelligent Automation event, the highly acclaimed conference & trade show called AI Expo Africa was run for the 8th edition at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa 29-31 October 2025. This globally recognized event, the AI Expo Africa event unites regional and international AI thought leaders, suppliers, investors and start-ups to discuss and showcase the latest AI & Smart Tech innovations from the biggest global brands to newest Startups. The core focus of the show is real world applications you can deploy today with an audience comprised of Enterprise and Government buyers, deployment & service providers, start-ups, educators, NGOs, investors and AI ecosystem builders. Dr Nick Bradshaw, Founder of AI Expo Africa & Chairperson of the South African AI Association stated, “This was our 8th Anniversary Edition and biggest show to-date, with over 100 companies in the expo hall 60 of which were AI Startups.” Big themes ranged from Agentic AI and progress towards the autonomous Enterprise, Security in the Age of AI, Responsible AI, Data Centre investment, National AI strategies and a new, dedicated third day, devoted to AI for Good hosting of the first International Telecommunication Union (ITU) AI for Good Impact Africa gathering at the show (a G20 side event). With a community of 50k+ practitioners, the show format is built upon the phenomenal success of the previous seven events that have cemented AI Expo Africa as the largest AI and Intelligent Automation business gathering of its kind in Africa.

2 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

JOHANNESBURG IS AFRICA'S AI TECH CAPITAL

We hosted 3400 delegates, ran 72 talks, 15 CPD workshops and 12 CxO round tables. Some of the 100+ Exhibitor & sponsorship brands that joined us in 2025 included; AWS, Google, Pinnacle, Dell, Supermicro, Nvidia, WIOCC, OADC, Verint, ServiceNow, Salesforce, VAST Data, Zoho Corporation, Avochoc, Cyborg Intell , French Embassy SA, Interface Systems / Yooz, LRMG, Matogen Applied Insights, Mavin Powercube, NITheCS - National Institute for Theoretical & Computer Sciences, ReportsAI, Retro Rabbit, Silicon Overdrive, Stubber, TesserAI, ZapDash Studio, JustSolve, AgenticZA, Akili, Amathuba-ai, Aptus Data Labs (Pvt) Ltd, Boxfusion, CIRRUS BRIDGE, Cohesion X, Ele-vate AI, ITLawCo, Nexus Data, Samurai Global, Aflu Med Healthcare, Beta Analytics, BotCTL, Edge Executive Search, Ejoobi, Hey Harvey, Learn AI, Link Nova, Owethu Managed Services and Surveya. About AI Expo Africa 2026 Now entering its 9th year, the next edition of AI Expo Africa 2026 will be held in South Africa 28-29th October. It will again unite 1000s of regional and international AI thought leaders, suppliers and start-ups to discuss and showcase the latest AI & Intelligent Automation innovations, from the biggest global brands to the smallest and newest local Startups. The core focus of the show are real world applications you can deploy today with a senior level audience comprised of Enterprise and Government buyers, deployment & service providers, start-ups, educators, NGOs and ecosystem builders. Learn more at: https://aiexpoafrica.com/

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

FLASH BACK TO AI EXPO AFRICA 2025

4 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

FLASH BACK TO AI EXPO AFRICA 2025

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

FLASH BACK TO AI EXPO AFRICA 2025

6 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

FLASH BACK TO AI EXPO AFRICA 2025

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

CAN YOUR AI AGENTS DO MORE THAN JUST CHAT? ON THE SERVICENOW PLATFORM, AI AGENTS ARE REAL. Lately, seems AI agents are popping up all over the place. But which is right for your business? Truth is, most just handle the basics. And if it looks like a chatbot and talks like a chatbot, it’s a chatbot. ServiceNow®AI Agents go beyond simple assistants. Pre-built or fully customised, our agents aren’t tools, they’re teammates. A highly-skilled digital workforce that operates autonomously across your entire company. They learn, collaborate, and proactively tackle repetitive tasks, freeing your employees to focus on more meaningful work. And only our platform acts as your AI agent control tower, letting you manage millions of agents (even third-party) from one place. Put AI agents to work for people. ServiceNow.com

IS YOUR DATA CENTRE

READY?

Powercube’s Modular solutions can get you there... fast.

xa mp

le R

x @ 90kW per rac

✔ Powercube AI orientated HPC Containerised Modular Data Centre solutions deliver ﬂexible, scalable,Tier 2, 3, 4 - Hybrid or pure HPC compute environments ✔ DX. RDHx. DLC. and/or IMMERSION technologies to suit your speciﬁc requirements/choice of vendor ✔ Design, build, plug-in & play with zero disruption to your existing datacentre ✔ Integrate your preferred technology partners

Powercube Custom Containerised Modular Data Centres are fast becoming the choice for mainstream RDHx, DLC and Immersion technologies. From 1 to 38 racks in a single Powercube container footprint. Co-join multiple Powercubes to create larger ﬂexible DC environments. UK Designed & Built - Shipped, Installed and Commissioned wherever in the world it’s required

REACH OUT TO OUR TEAM TODAY: T: +44 (0)845 612 1155 . E: connect@mavin.global . www.mavin.global

ASSOCIATION OFFER

Members get

50% off

JOIN the SA AI Association TODAY Promoting responsible AI in South Africa www.saaiassociation.co.za

10 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

tickets to AI Expo Africa &

FREE copy of the State of AI in Africa Report

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

INDUSTRY ANALYSIS

State of AI in Africa

CLICK HERE

to grab your copy TODAY

Analysis of the 4IR in Africa – A Foundation for Growth Report Commissioned by the AI Media Group

12 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

ADVERTORIAL

Connect is a leading systems integrator and digital transformation partner. With 35+ years’ experience, our client-centric, services-led approach enables us to create technology-enabled customer experiences and opti-channel engagement solutions, orchestrating frictionless journeys that are meaningful and impactful.

Outcomes-based contact centre success.

A financial insurer’s contact centre efficiency increased by 48% annually.

A prominent retail company's contact centre agents' productivity climbed by 45%.

A large technology solutions provider saw unanswered call rates decrease to less than 1%.

Visit our website

+27 10 476 0300 info@weconnect.tech

The role of SLMs in contact centre AI risk management strategies.

Implementing artificial intelligence (AI) in the contact centre isn’t just a technical or operational decision; it’s also an important governance issue. Addressing key business challenges in AI adoption.

uses another AI model to test the primary model against exposing

The core challenge facing businesses is understanding the shift from

the data you want to prevent it from sharing. With this approach, the

the predictable logic of traditional software to the probabilistic and

training itself becomes self-aware of the rules breach.

vague nature of GenAI.

Adversarial training is also adept at combating biases that custom

The unpredictable nature of complicated AI systems is visible in

LLMs can carry from past training models.

emerging behaviours. While not inherent in AI models, it can appear

When two models are trained at the same time to become resilient

when the model scales rapidly past a certain size.

to external influences, the adversarial model also becomes more

The problem with hallucinations is that even a single hallucination

sophisticated at breaking the rules, which improves its ability to pick

can erode user trust and create compliance risks.

up biases. During deployment, we use external sentinel models to check inputs

Understanding the realities of AI evolution.

and model responses to armour-proof outputs, which provides

Many businesses are stuck in a basic trial phase or have

another level of defence to catch cases that may escape the

implemented solutions that leverage open large language models

adversarial attacks.

(LLMs) to streamline basic tasks, like surfacing information, because

In terms of data privacy, we have a set of frameworks in our pipeline

they worry that they cannot control the technology.

with specific techniques used to add statistical noise during the

There is no guarantee that compromised information won't be

training to identify sensitive data that the model could reveal.

included when using commercial LLMs. This is particularly concerning in instances where personal information available in the

The role of refined, accurate data in AI.

public domain is used without obtaining consent, as this is effectively

However, it is not just the model that needs to be very carefully

a breach of personal data protection legislation, such as the General

curated. The overall AI data pipeline is also critical, as models are

Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Protection of Personal

only as good as the data they are trained on.

Information Act (POPIA).

Another tool we have available in our arsenal to mitigate the risks

Questions also arise when using commercial LLMs about the right to

associated with AI adoption in the contact centre is the small

be forgotten, as there is no guarantee that the inputted data will ever

language model (SLM) and micro-models.

be deleted.

SLMs create opportunities to achieve the best possible performance

Object accuracy is another concern when leveraging commercial

in usage and accuracy, as these models use limited resources, run on

LLMs because there is no guarantee that the collected data hasn’t

CPUs, and can be easily trained and controlled.

been changed during a hallucination.

We have also created micro-models – extremely small AI models that can help in one specific task only, such as just sentiment

The critical importance of assurance in AI security.

analysis, info extraction, or text analysis. This greatly reduces the

Even AI guardrails cannot always provide 100% certainty. The risk of

risks related to data leakage and the common problems experienced

a data leakage is another concern for businesses.

during training.

While all valid and real risks, partnering with an expert AI solutions provider like Connect can address these problems.

Services-led and technology-driven.

Our use of a proprietary model architecture and specific training

By deploying fit-for-purpose SLMs in an in-house environment,

approaches allows operators to create a custom LLM housed on their

using data masking, data reduction and encryption in transit, our

own infrastructure to ensure data never leaves their environment.

approach makes everything related to AI adoption in the contact

We build AI models that adhere to safety rules and internalise core

centre compliant, significantly reducing the risks associated with a

principles from the contact centre environment, building ethical rules

high-stakes misstep as AI adoption ramps up.

within the training for custom LLMs. This model is called constitutional AI, a training method that aligns a model with a set of predefined principles that requires some human

Lock down your data with Connect.

oversight but does not need extensive human labelling. Unlike a traditional approach, constitutional AI uses rules-based guardrails. Adversarial training adds another layer of safety, as this approach

Learn more

Book a Discovery Call

80% Cost Reduction

Easy. Powerful. Smart.

Real-Time Cloud Purchase-to-Pay Automation What makes Yooz unique

Simplicity

Savings

Speed

Traceability

Zero-risk

Collaboration

Security

All-in-One

400,000+ companies in 50+ countries are automating their P2P processes with Yooz

No Touch

Purchase

Capture

Review

Approve

Pay

+250 native connectors with existing software

Your contact in South Africa Interface Systems S.A. (Pty) Ltd 1st Floor, Block B, St Andrews Office Park 6 Meadowbrook Lane, Epsom Downs Phc +27-(0)11-706-8281 Adri du Plessis : adridp@interfacesystems.co.za

Export

Find out why Yooz is unique!

Request a Private Demo

getyooz.com

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

Pinnacle AI Services

ADVERTORIAL

Pinnacle has announced a significant expansion of its artificial intelligence (AI) portfolio, introducing a range of new services and consulting capabilities designed to help businesses navigate the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

his strategic move underscores Pinnacle’s commitment to providing comprehensive AI solutions that not only meet the demands of today’s market but also anticipate the needs of tomorrow. With AI becoming an increasingly critical component of business strategy, Pinnacle’s expanded offering aims to support organisations in leveraging AI to drive innovation, enhance efficiency, and improve decision-making processes. The new services are tailored to assist businesses at every stage of their AI journey, from initial planning and strategy development to full-scale implementation and ongoing optimisation. A key component of Pinnacle’s expanded AI offering is its consulting services, which provide businesses with access to a team of AI experts who bring deep industry knowledge and technical expertise. These consultants work closely with clients to understand their unique challenges and objectives, delivering customised AI strategies that align with their business goals. This personalised approach ensures that organisations can maximise the benefits of AI while minimising potential risks and disruptions. In addition to consulting, Pinnacle is offering a suite of managed AI services, including data management, machine learning model development, and AI-powered automation solutions. These services are designed to streamline the adoption

of AI technologies, allowing businesses to focus on their core operations while Pinnacle handles the complexities of AI integration and management. Pinnacle’s CEO, Tim Humphreys-Davies, highlighted the importance of this expansion, stating, “As AI continues to reshape industries, it’s crucial for businesses to have the right tools and guidance to harness its full potential. Our expanded AI services and consulting capabilities are designed to provide that support, helping our clients achieve their strategic objectives through intelligent, data-driven solutions.” The expansion also reflects Pinnacle’s ongoing investment in AI research and development, ensuring that its offerings remain at the forefront of technological innovation. By combining cutting-edge AI technology with expert consulting and support, Pinnacle is well-positioned to help businesses of all sizes and sectors successfully integrate AI into their operations. As AI adoption continues to accelerate across industries, Pinnacle’s enhanced services and consulting expertise will be instrumental in helping businesses not only keep pace with the competition but also lead the way in their respective markets. This latest development solidifies Pinnacle’s role as a trusted partner for organisations seeking to navigate the complexities of AI and unlock new opportunities for growth and success.

For more information, contact us: www.pinnacle.co.za | +27 (0) 11 265 3000

Interrogate AI. Don't Idolise It. Data-confident leaders challenge every claim and demand measurable business value in return.

At Nexus Data, we ask the hard questions your AI and analytics projects can’t escape. Our proven approach gives leaders the confidence and discipline to demand measurable results - not vague promises. By holding every investment accountable, we help you unlock revenue, drive strategic growth, and stay ahead of the competition. Whether you’re starting your data journey or scaling advanced AI, we make sure the answers always stand up to scrutiny. 20 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

nexusdata.global

AI Business Outcomes, Now™

Stronger, faster AI outcomes Verint® helps you deliver AI outcomes now to solve your most pressing CX automation challenges in the contact centre and beyond. With data and AI at the core, you can go well beyond incremental benefits to dramatically lower costs and elevate CX. See outcomes in weeks, not months or years.

AI Business Outcomes from Verint Customers

$10M Saved

$9M Saved

$4.5M Saved

$3M More in Sales

$5M Saved

+39 NPS

A bank contained 10M interactions (80% containment rate) through AI-driven self-service with Verint IVA.

A healthcare brand used the Exact Transcription Bot to achieve 90% transcription accuracy, leading to a $3M boost in sales.

A bank reduced call time by 20 seconds by giving agents real-time knowledge, through the Verint Knowledge Automation Bot, increasing agent capacity by 7%.

A financial services firm reduced call duration by 20 seconds by providing agents real-time coaching with Verint Coaching Bot.

An insurer reduced attrition by 30% by providing agents with unlimited scheduling flexibility with Verint TimeFlex Bot.

A mortgage lender increased NPS from +3 to +39 through real-time agent coaching with Verint Coaching Bot.

Visit Verint.com to discover how you can start seeing powerful, AI-driven results in just weeks.

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

Like avo on toast? You should try Avo on AI. AI doesn’t have to be overhyped, confusing, or impossible to digest. At AvoChoc, we keep it simple, real solutions, measurable results, and tech your team will actually enjoy using. We design AI that... Delivers ROI fast, pilots in 30–45 days

Fits your industry, not a template

Let’s make AI work for your business. avochoc.com | Meet us at AI Expo Africa 2025

Scales smoothly as you grow

Keeps your data safe and under your control

Explore AI AvoChoc Edition

XXXXXX

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

ADVERTORIAL

THE REAL BOTTLENECK:

Why AI in South Africa Is Being Held Back by Its Data / By Zane Wansbury /

Across South Africa, the pace of conversation around artificial intelligence has changed dramatically. What began a few years ago as curiosity has become a strategic priority. Executives want to harness AI for productivity, efficiency and customer experience. Boards are asking for timelines and measurable outcomes. Teams on the ground want tools that can ease pressure and reduce repetitive work.

24 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

n paper, AI appears ready for this moment. Models have become more capable, cloud infrastructure is now available locally and awareness of AI’s potential has spread across industries. Yet when organisations attempt to put AI to work, they often encounter a surprisingly familiar pattern. Early demonstrations look promising. Pilot tests show potential. But when it comes time to apply AI to real, day-today operations, the results fall short of expectations. Most people assume the issue lies with the model. Perhaps it needs more tuning, or a bigger dataset, or a different algorithm. But the deeper truth, one that many South African CIOs now quietly acknowledge, is simpler and far more fundamental: AI is being held back not by its intelligence, but by the data that feeds it. The data is late. The data is inconsistent. The data is incomplete. Or, quite often, the data is there, but no one can get to it.

This is the real bottleneck. And until it is addressed, the country’s AI ambitions will struggle to reach anything close to their potential.

South Africa’s Invisible Bottleneck Every mid to large scale organisation in South Africa carries a long and layered technological past. Banks, insurers and retailers have systems that date back decades. Government departments rely on platforms built for previous eras of public administration. Mining and industrial companies deploy specialised technologies in remote areas where connectivity is uneven. These systems were never designed to work together, and certainly not to power AI. They speak different languages, store data in different ways and operate on different rhythms. One system refreshes overnight. Another updates in near real time. Another requires a weekly export. Another has not been touched in years because the last person who understood it retired.

ADVERTORIAL

“

This is the environment into which AI is introduced. A model may be trained on a clean, curated dataset for a proof of concept. It performs beautifully. But the moment it is connected to the live, messy, multi-system reality of an enterprise, the inconsistencies begin to show. Fields do not match. Time stamps drift. Certain branches or regions cannot supply data quickly enough. Entire systems sit outside the pipeline because no one has managed to extract their data reliably.

”

Inside this landscape, data does not flow. It pools. It pauses. It gets stuck behind system boundaries or departmental walls. It is copied manually into spreadsheets or carried between teams through email. Each time it moves, it changes form. Over time, organisations develop multiple versions of the truth without meaning to. This is the environment into which AI is introduced. A model may be trained on a clean, curated dataset for a proof of concept. It performs beautifully. But the moment it is connected to the live, messy, multi-system reality of an enterprise, the inconsistencies begin to show. Fields do not match. Time stamps drift. Certain branches or regions cannot supply data quickly enough. Entire systems sit outside the pipeline because no one has managed to extract their data reliably. What was meant to be an intelligent, adaptive system becomes a hostage to the past. The bottleneck is not intelligence. It is movement. AI cannot reason its way around information it does not have. South Africa’s broader operating environment adds further strain. Power interruptions disrupt systems mid-process. Connectivity drops create gaps in data from branches, retail outlets or remote sites. Water shortages influence where data centres are built and how they operate. POPIA introduces strict reporting and accountability requirements that many fragmented systems simply cannot satisfy.

Each of these factors makes an already complex data landscape even more challenging to navigate. And every one of them slows the flow of information to a level that AI cannot tolerate.

Preparing the Ground for Real AI The most common mistake organisations make is to assume that they must start with the AI model. They call a vendor, pick a use case, run a pilot and expect that success will naturally follow. When results disappoint, they try again with a different vendor or a different tool. They assume the technology itself is the issue. But AI performance is not primarily determined by the brilliance of the model. It is determined by the health of the data environment that supports it. And in South Africa, the data environment is often held together by historical decisions, manual interventions, and heroic efforts from teams who have learned to work around constraints rather than remove them. Fixing this does not require a grand overhaul. It requires clarity. It begins with understanding where information lives, how it moves, and where it gets stuck. It requires treating data as an operational asset rather than an afterthought. It demands that organisations reduce their dependence on informal data movement, exports, email attachments, spreadsheets, and replace these with systems that deliver consistency and accuracy as a matter of routine. This is not the work of a project team. It is the work of leadership. It requires an organisation to accept that AI is not magic. It cannot elevate broken processes. It cannot repair organisational blind spots. It cannot conjure insight from data that is late or unreliable. What it can do, when data flows smoothly, is remarkable. South Africa is well positioned to make this shift precisely because its challenges are so visible. The country’s biggest industries understand what happens when systems cannot communicate. They know the cost of downtime. They recognise the consequences of incomplete information. And because many organisations have not invested heavily in half-measures or interim modernisation projects, there is an opportunity to leapfrog straight to cleaner, unified, better-governed data environments. Local cloud capacity is growing. Talent programmes are expanding. Business appetite for AI is rising. The moment is right. But none of it will matter if data continues to move slowly, inconsistently or not at all.

The organisations that take the bottleneck seriously will gain a genuine competitive advantage. Their AI models will learn faster. Their decisions will be more accurate. Their operations will be more resilient. Their teams will trust the insights they see. And their innovation cycles will shorten dramatically. In a country where every kilowatt of electricity, every drop of water and every moment of connectivity carries weight, the ability to keep data flowing cleanly and reliably is more than a technical achievement. It is a strategic necessity. AI in South Africa is ready to accelerate. The question is whether the data is ready to move with it. Whoever solves that challenge will shape the future.

“South Africa is well positioned

to make this shift precisely because its challenges are so visible. The country’s biggest industries understand what happens when systems cannot communicate. They know the cost of downtime. They recognise the consequences of incomplete information. And because many organisations have not invested heavily in half-measures or interim modernisation projects, there is an opportunity to leapfrog straight to cleaner, unified, better-governed data environments.

”

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

COLLABORATION NEWS

FRANCE, A PARTNER OF AI ECOSYSTEMS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA The French Embassy was a proud partner of the 8th AI Expo Africa.

his year’s strong focus on AI for Good deeply resonates with France’s vision of an inclusive and sustainable AI. We believe that artificial intelligence should not only drive productivity and economic growth, but also help address pressing social and environmental challenges.

At the French Embassy, our mission is to enable innovators, investors, researchers, and policymakers to collaborate across borders. Through our partnerships and programmes, the French Embassy promotes cooperation between French and Southern African stakeholders to ensure that AI becomes a tool for collective progress in creating opportunities for all, fostering innovation, and supporting both green and digital transitions of our economies and communities. We are also aligning our efforts with global initiatives such as the Coalition for Sustainable Artificial Intelligence, launched by the French government at the AI Action Summit in February 2025, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), to advance a shared vision of responsible and sustainable AI. To achieve this, the Embassy works to facilitate all forms of cooperation from academic exchanges and joint research, to public– private partnerships and ecosystem building in order to share best practices and develop shared interests for sustainable AI.

EMPOWERING WOMEN IN IA The French Embassy also proudly supported the Women in AI Pavilion, highlighting the outstanding work of Women in AI Southern Africa in advocacy and empowerment, as well as ten outstanding female-led startups from across the country. This sponsorship, jointly with the SouthAfrican AI Association, aims to strengthen the participation of women and minorities.

SHOWCASING FRENCH INNOVATION

WHAT’S NEXT ?

For the first time, the French Startup Booth welcomed three innovative startups from across France, each offering innovative solutions and looking to build new business connections with South African and regional markets. ToumAI: Voice analytics in African languages for improved customer experience Vrai-AI: Counterfeit detection using a simple smartphone powered by computer vision AI. DUKE: AI analytics assistant tailored for SMEs to help them make smarter business decisions.

As part of our long-term vision, we are launching in 2026 a France–South Africa academic mobility programme on Sustainable AI, connecting students, researchers, and scientists committed to building responsible and impactful AI models. To stay connected and discover more about our upcoming initiatives, follow @France in South Africa, Lesotho and Malawi on LinkedIn.

Fluent in all 11 official South African languages

Your AI Destination for Enterprise Clarity In a sea of millions of documents, Atlas is your compass. Powered by Gen-AI, Atlas not only searches, it also navigates. By mapping relationships across cases, clauses, and knowledge silos, it transforms chaos into clarity, surfacing the answers that matter when time is critical. Atlas has set a new standard in the legal arena and is now becoming indispensable to brand companies, engineering firms, and anyone faced with mountains of unstructured data.

VectorMind provides affordable, easy-to-integrate Gen-AI, giving employees access to the magic of all the top global commercial Gen-AI platforms, without exposing IP and sensitive data.

Complete data privacy through localised Gen-AI Ethical AI with guardrails against bias, hallucinations & criminal intent Quick enterprise-ready implementation

Stop searching. Start knowing:

info@cohesionx.co.za www.cohesionx.co.za www.vectormind.online

Taking Your Vision and Making it a Symphony You have the vision - the melody of a smarter, more innovative, more efficient business. But a melody on its own can’t fill the concert hall. To create something extraordinary, it needs to become a symphony with each player aligned, each part in tune. That’s where Bonisa AI comes in: the partner that brings every element together, turning your idea into a performance that delivers real impact, from first note to final ovation.

ADVERTORIAL

The Elements of Your AI Symphony onisa AI brings together the right instruments: expertise, insight, and technology, to turn your strategic score into a flawless performance:

Your Partner in the Performance: Bonisa AI We are a team of mentors, backed by decades of experience and multiple PhDs, dedicated to guiding your project. We ensure your business knowledge is perfectly harmonised with data and technology to craft a winning solution.

The Score & Tutor: Carys by Cogitait Carys, our intelligent AI engine, acts as a "copilot tutor," translating your strategic vision into a robust, auditable score (code).

This intelligent blueprint augments your existing team, providing specialist data science capability in a box, combining automation with human oversight and essential contextualization. It’s far more than a simple Business Intelligence tool or a mere AI chatbot, it is a data science team in a box.

“

It's far more than a simple Business Intelligence tool...it's a data science team in a box.

“

From Vision to Ovation

An orchestral metaphor for teamwork

With Bonisa AI, you don't have to conduct every instrument yourself. We craft your solution by perfectly harmonizing your business knowledge, diverse data, best-in-class software, and expert skills. You compose the score and we help you deliver the performance.

The Conductor: Altair® AI Suite Every great symphony needs a conductor — and in the world of AI, that’s Altair’s AI Suite. Built on the Altair® RapidMiner® platform, it brings order and rhythm to the complexity of data, models, and deployment. From uncovering hidden insights with Altair® Monarch®, to composing predictive and generative models in Altair® AI Studio, to ensuring secure, scalable performance through Altair® AI Hub — it unites every stage of the process. The result is an accessible, end-to-end ecosystem that puts the power of AI into your hands and turns data into clear, confident decisions.

The Concert Hall: Siemens Mendix Every great symphony needs the right auditorium. The Siemens Mendix low-code platform provides that modern, secure environment — the place where everything comes together. It enables teams to build, manage, and evolve AI applications quickly and confidently, ensuring each performance runs securely and in perfect sync with the rhythm of your business. Contact our team to bring your visionary symphony to life. m. +27 68 188 7051 e. info@bonisa.co.za

Wedge 40% more value from your data and AI-led initiatives

MAKE DATA YOUR ADVANTAGE. NOT YOUR HANDICAP. At Nexus Data, we turn your data analytics investments into measurable results you can actually see. Our proven approach empowers you to confidently tap into your data's full potential - boosting revenue, driving strategic growth, and keeping you ahead of the competition. Whether you're just teeing off on your data journey or already in full swing, we'll help you maximise value and keep your business sustainably on course.

32 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

nexusdata.global

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

ROVING REPORTER

PROTOCLONE AND NEO GAMMA: A NEW ERA OF MAN-MACHINE INTERACTION / By Deon Van Zyl /

Can you believe, it is the generation where robots can move with the fluidity of human muscles. Well, Clone Robotics is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of humanoid movement as well as refining android technology that has led up to the astonishing Protoclone - a faceless yet eerily humanlike android that moves in a way that is both fascinating and unsettling.

34 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

ROVING REPORTER

“Protoclone is a glimpse into

the future of human-machine interaction. Pre-orders will be available later this year for the Clone Alpha edition, but numbers are limited to only 279 units.

”

The journey began with an animated torso that sent chills down viewers’ spines. It evolved into Torso 2, which is a more refined version that finally led to Protoclone and a breakthrough in biomechanics. This is the story of how Clone Robotics turned a terrifying prototype into a cutting-edge marvel of synthetic human motion. Torso 1: The Birth of a Mechanical Marvel Torso 1 was an unsettling creation that made headlines for its organic-looking, muscle-like movements. Unlike the traditional robots that rely on rigid servos and motors, Clone Robotics introduced a musculoskeletal system that mimicked real human motion. This early iteration featured synthetic muscles powered by pressurized air, allowing it to flex, contract, and move more naturally than anything seen before. However, Torso 1 was limited in its range and functionality as it lacked precision and control. Therefore, sending Clone Robotics back to the drawing board.

Torso 2: More Control and Realism The second iteration called Torso 2 was built upon the foundation of its predecessor. However, crucial improvements were made. Engineers refined the muscle actuation system by giving it smoother and more controlled movements. Additionally, Torso 2 introduced a stronger skeletal structure to better withstand the forces exerted by its artificial muscles. The advancements did not come without their challenges. The lifelike nature of the android sparked ethical debates because of how closely it mimicked human form. Despite this, Clone Robotics pressed forward.

Enter Protoclone: The Android Without a Face In a viral video, the suspended humanoid moves with an eerie grace. Its faceless form might be unsettling for some. However, beneath the uncanny aesthetics lies groundbreaking technology. Protoclone features. Additionally, the potential of AI Integration is also highly likely to provide the capability of real-world tasks. Although the current focus is biomechanics.

Protoclone is a glimpse into the future of human-machine interaction. Pre-orders will be available later this year for the Clone Alpha edition, but numbers are limited to only 279 units.

The Future of Home Robotics: Neo Gamma While Protoclone pushes the boundaries of humanlike motion, another company is working on bringing humanoid robots into everyday homes. Neo Gamma is a robot designed specifically for household assistance. Unlike Protoclone which focuses on mimicking the human body; Neo Gamma is engineered to interact with people and perform some of their daily tasks.

What Sets Neo Gamma Apart? Unlike previous robots, Neo Gamma prioritizes practicality over hyper realistic movement. Designed by 1X Technologies, this home assistant robot is equipped with:

It is undeniable that Protoclone and Neo Gamma will have a large impact on society and could revolutionize industries playing a role in elder care or manual labor.

“The biggest challenge in

robotics has always been functionality. Many robots look impressive in controlled environments but fail in realworld homes. However, 1X Technologies has designed Neo Gamma to overcome these hurdles by making it adaptable, efficient, and genuinely useful for daily life such as cooking, cleaning, and acting as a personal assistant.

”

Advanced AI for Household Tasks: Neo Gamma can clean, organize, and even assist with daily tasks. Adaptive Learning: The robot learns from user preferences, and it can adjust its routines to better assist its owner. Safe and Efficient Design: Unlike some robots that seem more experimental than practical, Neo Gamma is built to execute tasks safely.

Why Neo Gamma Could Be the First True Home Robot The biggest challenge in robotics has always been functionality. Many robots look impressive in controlled environments but fail in real-world homes. However, 1X Technologies has designed Neo Gamma to overcome these hurdles by making it adaptable, efficient, and genuinely useful for daily life such as cooking, cleaning, and acting as a personal assistant. Neo Gamma marks a significant step toward making household androids a reality. With trials already underway, experts predict that it could become the first widely adopted home robot soon. The company has yet to share additional details, but sources speculate that the new robot will be priced at around $30,000.

“The biggest challenge in

robotics has always been functionality. Many robots look impressive in controlled environments but fail in realworld homes.

”

Deon van Zyl (Norway) BCom (Hons), Staff System Developer Linkedin: deonvanzyl Deon is a sophisticated technical IT professional with a solid history of effectively bridging the gap between Development, Security, Automation, and Artificial Intelligence. His track record of over 25 years, has a footprint that spans major corporations, academic institutions, and government.

4TH QUARTER 2026 | SYNAPSE

SMART AGENTS

BUILT FOR YOU

Max Alexander The Sales The Strategist Specialist

Olivia The Financial Analyst

Max The Sales Specialist

Sophia The Compliance Guru

Ethan The Tech Visionary

Sophia The Client Experience Expert

AI ADVISORY BOARD

Six AI advisors, each with a role, expertise, and tailored prompts to help you think, plan, and scale smarter.

WHATSAPP AGENT

Personal, timely, and reliable client communication 24/7, without adding extra work to your team’s plate.

marketing@zapdash.studio | www.zapdash.studio 36 SYNAPSE | 4TH QUARTER 2026

Enquire Now

3rd QUARTER 2025 | ISSUE 26

SYNAPSE Africa's only AI Trade & Innovation Magazine THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICA AI ASSOCIATION

AFRICA’S LARGEST AI EVENT TH EDITION LANDS IN JOZI FOR 8TH LELAPA AI

Changing Low-Resource Language AI

DFF Dubai joins

SA AI Association initiative

SAAIA Analysis Africa’s Top 20 Countries for AI

CASSAVA AI

partners with SA AI Association

UNITED NATIONS ITU AI4GOOD IMPACT AFRICA Inaugural AI for Good Impact Africa Event co-locates with AI Expo Africa

SYNAPSE

3rd QUARTER 2025 | ISSUE 26

SYNAPSE Africa's only AI Trade & Innovation Magazine THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICA AI ASSOCIATION

AFRICA’S LARGEST AI EVENT TH EDITION LANDS IN JOZI FOR 8TH

Africa's only AI Trade & Innovation Magazine THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOUTH AFRICA AI ASSOCIATION

LELAPA AI

Changing Low-Resource Language AI

DFF Dubai joins SA AI Association initiative

REACH AFRICA'S LARGEST ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE & 4IR COMMUNITY WITH SYNAPSE MAGAZINE

SAAIA Analysis Africa’s Top 20 Countries for AI

CASSAVA AI

partners with SA AI Association

UNITED NATIONS ITU AI4GOOD IMPACT AFRICA Inaugural AI for Good Impact Africa Event co-locates with AI Expo Africa

Published Quarterly Official Publication of AI Expo Africa

RATE CARD AD SIZE

RATE*

Company Listing (logo, company description & hyperlink) 1/4 Page (includes 1/4 page editorial) 1/2 Page (includes 1/2 page editorial) Full Page (includes full-page editorial feature) Double Page Spread

R2500 R3500 R4500 R6500 R10,000

* All rates exclude VAT & agency commission. Rates are based on casual advertising. Discounted rates are available for longer ad / editorial runs

READERSHIP / SOCIAL MEDIA REACH Synapse Magazine is Africa’s ﬁrst and only business quarterly publication covering developments across the continent in Artiﬁcial Intelligence (AI), Data Science, Robotic Process Automation (RPA) and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) smart technologies. Synapse offers industry executives, practitioners, investors and researchers relevant news, in-depth analysis, and thought leadership articles on trends around 4IR innovation and digital transformation in industries that include banking, retail, manufacturing, healthcare, mining, agriculture, education, and government, among others.

Over the years the magazine has established a signiﬁcant following across Africa as well as globally, with readers from as far aﬁeld as the North America, South America, Europe and Asia. This makes Synapse a great marketing platform for startups and established tech companies to reach a broader community of buyers, investors and partners.

Readers around the world

With its insights, interviews and case studies, the magazine aims to be a voice for African 4IR practitioners, researchers, innovators, thought leaders, and the wider African AI community. Since its launch in 2018, Synapse has amassed a combined readership of 31,300 across the Issuu platform (on which it is published), the AI Media Group’s email database, the AI Expo Africa Community Group on LinkedIn and the AI Media Group’s social media channels where the magazine is distributed. It also links to AI TV, Africa’s only dedicated YouTube streaming channel focused on 4IR business users and trade.

BOOK YOUR AD / EDITORIAL FEATURE

Advertising and artwork to be supplied as a high resolution PRESS-ready PDF of at least 300dpi. Art and editorial features to be submitted to: daniel.mpala@aiexpoafrica.com

Synapse - Africa’s 4IR Trade & Innovation Magazine - 4th Quarter 2026 Issue 27