How South Africans Are Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

Greetings, Moneyweb readers! I’m thrilled to present my very first AI column (and no, it hasn’t been generated by AI) …

You might have experienced the adulting version of Tetris, where an event for your child, buried in a PDF from the school at the start of the term, clashes with a newly discovered obligation you can’t overlook. To tackle this situation this year, I uploaded that PDF to ChatGPT in January and asked for an importable calendar file.

The ease of the import was gratifying on its own. The satisfaction I derived from taking control of my personal administration was utterly enjoyable.

This encapsulates the present state of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in South Africa (and elsewhere) – a far cry from the grim, job-eliminating turmoil often portrayed in sensational news.

AI is a practical tool that is steadily integrating into the daily lives of South Africans, whether we actively seek it out for solutions or, at times, subtly benefit from its enhancements.

Read: What constitutes a good AI prompt?

Many South Africans have discovered targeted, practical ways to save time and money, confront challenges, or capitalize on opportunities using AI. AI is a genuine passion of mine, and I love inquiring about people’s experiences with it in their daily lives.

Years back, I faced ridicule for pursuing AI courses, so I find it heartwarming today to see others enthusiastically sharing their own AI applications. I thought it would be beneficial to compile and share various practical examples.

AI adoption often happens through imitation – we see a prompt or application used by someone else and modify it to suit our needs.

We also turn to innovators and thought leaders who introduce us to outstanding new strategies to navigate this new era. Here are some examples:

Many households are making efforts to stretch their finances further, prompting some to harness AI to discover hidden savings and budget-friendly options.

The prompt: “Review my uploaded bank statements and grocery receipts to help optimize my spending, suggest savings, and guide me until my next payday.”

The results: Nearly R1,000 in easy savings. A friend utilized claude.ai and discovered she was unnecessarily accruing bank fees by using the wrong ATMs and making too many small monthly transactions.

The AI pointed out that her grocery bills increased when she shopped while hungry after work at the more expensive Engen food stop and suggested she could save by switching from Woolworths to Checkers for everyday items, keeping Woolworths for special occasions.

• Following Up on Unpaid Invoices via WhatsApp

Small business owners often face cash flow dilemmas as customers postpone (or ignore) payments for services provided; thus, some are turning to AI-driven WhatsApp agents for reminders about overdue invoices without damaging client relationships.

The prompt: “Compose empathetic WhatsApp messages for clients with unpaid invoices that maintain professional rapport while encouraging payment. Gradually increase the tone from friendly nudges to more assertive requests. Always include payment plan options and keep a respectful tone.”

The results: Karen, a WhatsApp agent from sagentics.ai, helped a plumber in Johannesburg recover R89,000 in overdue payments within two weeks by using automated WhatsApp follow-ups. The AI agent achieved a 67% response rate on WhatsApp, compared to just 23% for traditional email reminders, and impressively, 78% of clients interacting with the WhatsApp agent continued to do business.

• Enhancing Services Through Customer Data Analysis

Hospitality businesses are employing AI to analyze countless guest reviews, translating them into actionable recommendations for property improvements.

The prompt: “Examine the last thousand guest reviews from our hotel using natural language processing. Identify word frequency patterns, seasonal trends, and demographic correlations. Link specific design features to satisfaction scores and provide prioritized recommendations for reducing negative feedback while enhancing positive experiences.”

The results: Venturen, a property fund based in Cape Town, leveraged AI to analyze over 3,000 guest reviews from their flagship Latitude Aparthotel. They revealed patterns that human insight might miss. Confusing light switches and drafty winter windows were associated with negative reviews, while they underestimated the significant impact that high-quality balcony furniture had on securing 9+ ratings. Additionally, they paired these insights with architectural designs, using AI to assess layouts, lighting, and usability for new aparthotels in Cape Town and Budapest.

• Children Engaging with a Learning Assistant

A teacher recently gained attention for using Midjourney to evolve the class’s headshot photos into older versions of themselves in dream careers.

Kids and their parents are now integrating AI into homework sessions. Each student processes information uniquely, so presenting concepts through storytelling helps retain foundational learning. With AI, we rely less on memory and enhance our prompting and engagement skills.

The prompt: “Explain [concept] in an easily digestible way for [audience type]. Utilize analogies, provide step-by-step insights, and engage in interactive questioning to reinforce understanding. Simplify complex ideas into manageable segments and provide practical examples.”

It’s uplifting to witness established educational institutions embracing augmented learning through AI. Here’s a fantastic introduction to AI provided by Wharton professors.

The Practical Takeaway

These examples emphasize a vital aspect of AI adoption in South Africa – success arises from addressing clear, specific everyday challenges rather than chasing grandiose automation aspirations. The most effective users start small and progress through experimentation.

Whether you’re fine-tuning your budget or expanding a business, the foundational principle remains constant – AI enhances human intelligence rather than replacing it. The real magic resides in mastering the prompting interface.

Read:
AI in Action: Google identifies opportunities in SA
Apple plans expansion into AI robotics, home security, and smart displays
Utilizing AI as a junior analyst

In a country filled with issues requiring attention, especially in the education and small business sectors, there’s perhaps no better starting point than initiating your first conversation with ChatGPT or Claude about the challenges keeping you awake at night, even if it’s merely your upcoming scheduling conflict in Google Calendar.

Give it a go … and let me know what you discover.

• Murray Legg is a technology entrepreneur and investor. He leads strategy and product at Webfluential, a marketplace for the creator economy.

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