Comment Re:Does systemd want to wish us happy birthday now (Score 0) 170
Why is there not a "Race" field? You know, for restitution. Or gerrymandering.
Submission + - South Africa's Draft AI Policy Withdrawn for a Predictable Reason (timeslive.co.za)
Tokolosh writes: Earlier this month, minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni announced cabinet had approved the draft policy for public comment.
She said the policy seeks to strengthen government’s ability to regulate and adopt AI responsibly, while fostering innovation, job creation, and skills access.
Minister of the department of communications and digital technologies Solly Malatsi has withdrawn the draft national artificial intelligence policy after it was found the draft policy was compiled using AI, which cited academic journal articles that were “fictitious”.
Malatsi said after an internal investigation they found the policy document published for public comment contains fictitious sources in its reference list, hence the withdrawal.
“I am withdrawing the draft national artificial intelligence policy. South Africans deserve better. The department of communications and digital technologies did not deliver on the standard acceptable for an institution entrusted with the role to lead South Africa ‘s digital policy environment.
“The most plausible explanation is that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened. This unacceptable lapse proves why vigilant human oversight over the use of artificial intelligence is critical,” Malatsi said.
He emphasised the issue is not merely technical but has compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy.
“It’s a lesson we take with humility. I want to reassure the country we are treating this matter with the gravity it deserves. There will be consequences for those responsible for drafting and quality assurance,” he said.
The withdrawal and investigation came after News24 published an article highlighting alleged issues in the draft policy released on April 10.
She said the policy seeks to strengthen government’s ability to regulate and adopt AI responsibly, while fostering innovation, job creation, and skills access.
Minister of the department of communications and digital technologies Solly Malatsi has withdrawn the draft national artificial intelligence policy after it was found the draft policy was compiled using AI, which cited academic journal articles that were “fictitious”.
Malatsi said after an internal investigation they found the policy document published for public comment contains fictitious sources in its reference list, hence the withdrawal.
“I am withdrawing the draft national artificial intelligence policy. South Africans deserve better. The department of communications and digital technologies did not deliver on the standard acceptable for an institution entrusted with the role to lead South Africa ‘s digital policy environment.
“The most plausible explanation is that AI-generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened. This unacceptable lapse proves why vigilant human oversight over the use of artificial intelligence is critical,” Malatsi said.
He emphasised the issue is not merely technical but has compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy.
“It’s a lesson we take with humility. I want to reassure the country we are treating this matter with the gravity it deserves. There will be consequences for those responsible for drafting and quality assurance,” he said.
The withdrawal and investigation came after News24 published an article highlighting alleged issues in the draft policy released on April 10.
Comment Hey cockroah! (Score 1) 176
Hold my beer...
Comment Re:That's not actually how anything works (Score 1) 40
So what is it - a "free market", or a "pretend free market"?
Pretty obviously the latter. That is where the remedy is needed.
Comment Re:How? (Score 1) 151
Fire up your heat pumps now in anticipation of winter. You'll not regret it.
Comment Copyright Duration (Score 1) 152
Reduce copyright to 10 years. Maybe we will be spared the low-effort sequels, spin-offs and remakes. I mean, how much can you squeeze out of Star Wars, Marvel and Oceans nn?
Comment The Silver Rule. The rest is commentary, go AI (Score 3, Interesting) 162
Rabbi Hillel the Elder (1st century BCE) expressed an ethical principle that is often called the Silver Rule.
The Rule:
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellow."
He said this when asked to summarise the entire Torah "while standing on one foot." His full response continued: "The rest is commentary; go and learn."
Comment Re:advice to children (Score 1) 193
Overlords, you do not live in a vacuum. You live in a country with a Bill of Rights and a Constitution. These rights apply to everybody. Ignoring them will be bad for you. Don't do it.
Comment Not just people (Score 1) 159
Restaurants, bars, airports, malls, amusement parks, shops, elevators - all seem to feel the need/right to pollute the air with their "music". Usually obnoxious saxophone or a wailing, screeching woman.
Look, it is not acceptable to blow smoke in a person's nostrils, why is is ok to blow noise into their ears?
Comment ICE (Score 1) 96
Please add TPMS to the People's face-recognition and license plate databases and upgrade the app accordingly.
Comment Re:5mg Tadalafil a day (Score 1) 35
I'm sure you are selflessly doing you bit for breast health.
https://web.mit.edu/zoz/Public...
Comment Re:I believe Africa has the raw materials (Score 1) 28
Why not? What is stopping them?
Comment Re:Oh boo hoo (Score 1) 28
Starlink is prohibited from operating in South Africa by the South African government, thus depriving millions of poor rural people of broadband access.
The reason for the ban is that Starlink is required to hand over 30% of the equity in its local business to a select group of locals, based on their race.
Comment Re:Core Competency: Lobbying, or engineering? (Score 1) 126
"When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators." -- P. J. O'Rourke
Take away the power from Congress and the President, and they can lobby and buy elections all they want.
Comment Re:Core Competency: Lobbying, or engineering? (Score 1) 126
Agreed, hand-out is a better term than bail-out.
But it's a sad situation when a high-tech company CEO's first job is to scrounge money from taxpayers, while delegating management of its very reason for existing.
