The University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) opened a new AI research hub called the Wits Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery (MIND) Institute on November 19.

The institute will focus on fundamental AI research and the scientific understanding of intelligence in its many forms, while developing cutting-edge technologies tailored to Africa’s unique challenges through robust interdisciplinary collaboration.

It 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, among others.

“Partnerships between universities and industries have proven to be pivotal in developing industry-specific innovation, assessing risks posed by AI and training talent required by industry to develop, deploy and scale AI solutions,” said Wits Research and Innovation deputy vice-chancellor Professor Lynn Morris.

“The Wits MIND Institute research hub will partner with industry to help them prepare and become purpose-fit for the age of AI. We are in discussion with several big technology companies and industries whose leaders are very excited about the possibilities that a partnership with Wits will bring,” she pointed out.

The Wits MIND Institute’s model is founded on robust interdisciplinary collaboration and the breaking down of academic silos, said Wits AI and Robotics professor and Wits MIND Institute director Benjamin Rosman.

Thirty-four experts from diverse fields, including computer science, engineering, psychology, philosophy, neuroscience, anatomy, creative arts, anthropology and governance, have been selected to serve in the Wits MIND Institute’s inaugural Fellows Programme.

This interdisciplinary team will drive the institute’s mission by working in an environment that encourages the cross-pollination of ideas.

The Wits MIND Institute is engaging with market leaders across diverse sectors, including the technology, financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail and logistics industries, he added.

The Wits MIND Institute will run deep-dive workshops, seminars, talks and regular gatherings where the Fellows can interact, find synergies and drive scientific discovery and innovation.

“By creating a space for these cross-disciplinary interactions, the Wits MIND Institute aims to supercharge AI research in entirely new directions,” said Rosman.

NEW CHAIRS
To support these efforts, the institute will appoint new AI Research Chairs across Wits’ five faculties.

This will help to channel fundamental research into practical applications across multiple fields, ensuring that the Wits MIND Institute’s discoveries benefit various sectors of society.

However, the institute's primary focus is on fundamental AI research, which is the foundational science behind AI.

The Wits MIND Institute will collaborate with IT company IBM on joint research initiatives and will combine expertise and innovation to drive impactful projects, he added.

“IBM is committed to pioneering AI advancements that solve critical challenges and open new frontiers of opportunity across the globe. 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,” said IBM Research Africa director Dr Charity Wayua.

“Together, we aim to accelerate innovation, foster local expertise and ensure that AI contributes meaningfully to the social and economic transformation of Africa,” she said.

“Africa needs an institute like the Wits MIND Institute with a bold agenda to push future-shaping AI research and innovation. By developing and deploying AI models and dictating policies that consider the culture and diversity of more than one-billion people on the continent, the Wits MIND Institute will ensure that Africa has a seat at the global AI table,” said Wits vice-chancellor and principal Professor Zeblon Vilakazi.

The Wits MIND Institute aims to foster homegrown innovation that addresses Africa’s unique challenges and that positions the continent as a creator, and not just a consumer, of AI technologies, and will collaborate with industry partners to develop and incubate technologies, Rosman noted.

Further, 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. As such, the institute includes philosophers, ethicists and policy experts.

“We want the Wits MIND Institute to be a place where new ideas in AI are connected with real-world applications in a meaningful and ethical way,” Morris said.

“By engaging with policymakers across the continent, the institute will contribute towards developing frameworks that ensure the ethical and responsible deployment of AI technologies.

“This means considering how to embed African values in AI systems, and how AI impacts society at large, ensuring that our research supports long-term, sustainable growth and development,” she highlighted.

The Wits MIND Institute was launched at the new Wits Anglo American Digital Dome, which was developed to be a cross-disciplinary, advanced research and development centre.