Nedbank and UJ partner to develop AI

Nedbank has awarded UJ a research chair that will work towards and develop advanced artificial intelligence technologies.

The University of Johannesburg’s (UJ) data science research and Einstein awardee Professor Terence van Zyl will be heading up the new Nedbank Research Chair as of 1 July. This chair is housed within UJ’s Institute for Intelligent Systems (IIS). The use of artificial technology has been attracting growing attention across the globe and expectations are high to seek new possibilities and consider old scientific challenges from a new angle. The professor said, “I’m inspired to accept this role at a time when it is increasingly apparent that our foreseeable future will be a very different place beyond our current crisis.”

Prof Van Zyl, as the new incumbent, will provide leadership for a major expansion in the institute, education programmes and scientific directions of computer science, building upon ongoing data science projects and catalysing the development of new collaborations within the university and with partners outside the university. “Computing has transformed from a reactive tool on a desk into an active part of our ordinary lives. “AI, data science and algorithms now guide and influence almost all areas of human endeavour.

By their very nature technologies are both a democratiser and enabler of research, innovation, social and economic impact.” Director of the Institute for Intelligent Systems Professor Babu Paul added, “We welcome Prof Terence van Zyl as the Nedbank Research Chair and are sure that he will make a meaningful and substantial contribution to the Fourth Industrial Revolution initiatives through his research work which will benefit academia, the banking sector and the society at large.”

With over 20 years of experience in the fields of data science, big data analytics, stream processing, machine learning, complex adaptive systems, high-performance computing, and computational and artificial intelligence, the professor will be expected to increase scientific research and innovation in areas aligned to the multi-disciplinary nature of Fourth Industrial Revolution. Investment in research, through the research chairs, is intended to improve South Africa’s international research and innovation competitiveness, while responding to social and economic challenges of the country. It is in this context that the Nedbank Research Chair was awarded.

Professor Paul thanked Nedbank for collaborating with the university and awarding the Nedbank Research Chair at the Institute for Intelligent Systems.