From the live demo of the humanoid robot Maximus and its canine colleagues Murphy and Mavis to intimate breakout discussions on ethics and emotional intelligence, the programme offered an engaging mix of human and technological insight. Keynotes and panels wrapped up with practical takeaways, such as the five-step sleep plan offered by Dr Michael Breus, and real-life robotics cases presented by Aaron Frank and Hongqi Guo.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Angela Yeung said what stood out most was that “the summit wasn’t only about machines, it was about mindset. Just like climbing Everest, the future belongs to those who master both inner intelligence and technological capability. Singularity reminded us that innovation without humanity is incomplete.”

Dr Tiffany Vora, one of the featured speakers, shared: “I was particularly inspired by stories of action, innovation and hope from Africa. Yes, this continent is facing important challenges, but it also has a deep wellspring of creativity, energy and passion for change.”

Celiwe Ross, Celiwe Ross, Group Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Old Mutual, summed up a key theme in her keynote: “Technology can drive growth and efficiency, but only humanity can ensure it uplifts rather than divides. Courage, ingenuity, and empathy are the new cornerstones of effective leadership. True transformation begins with understanding and connection – the ability to see people as they are and then create systems which reflect their realities.”

The event, hosted in collaboration with Old Mutual and metaverse partner UBU, drew over 1,100 participants to the Sandton Convention Centre, with more than 1,000 additional attendees joining online.

The Summit Covered Several Standout Themes:

Navigating unstable times: David Roberts’ opening keynote kicked off the event with a compelling examination of national disruption, global supply-chain fragility and Africa’s growth potential.

Human-centred leadership: Celiwe Ross of Old Mutual emphasised the blend of empathy and technology in leadership, urging a shift from product sales to purpose-led relationships.

Cognitive computing futures: Aaron Frank mapped the shift from logic-only AI systems to context-driven cognitive models that work alongside people.

AI as a partner, not just a tool: Cathy Hackl invited the audience to rethink machines as collaborators, not just instruments. Her discussion about intimacy and the use of avatars, AI companions and emotional interfaces, was paired with rigorous debate about ethics and design responsibility.

Evolutionary algorithms in action: Ashley Anthony demonstrated how algorithms are now improving themselves and how that capability is being applied in under-resourced South African schools.

Africa’s AI advantage: Maureen Costello of Google Cloud outlined the $1-billion continental investment in cloud infrastructure and the chance for Africa to leapfrog legacy systems.

Preparing for AGI: Peter Xing challenged delegates to plan for AGI futures, not as a horizon goal but as a present condition requiring ethical, distributed capacity.

Inside the robotics lab: Aaron Frank and Hongqi Guo presented live robotics demonstrations and urban-design concepts, showing technology making an immediate physical difference.

Adaptability and emotional fitness at work: Futurist John Sanei made a compelling case for emotional intelligence and adaptability as the next frontier of professional capability, beyond IQ and tech skills.

Innovations for social good: Young inventor Bohlale Mphahlele presented her wearable alerting device for gender-based violence, bringing the event’s tech-forward conversations back to everyday human welfare.

Mic Mann, Co-CEO of Singularity South Africa, said: “Each year we’re inspired by how our community continues to grow and evolve. The energy, curiosity and collaboration we saw at this year’s summit reaffirm our belief that Africa has the talent and drive to shape a thriving, human-centred future.”

“We’re already looking ahead to next year’s gathering on 21 and 22 October 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre. The conversations that began here are just the start — next year we’ll build on them with even greater momentum and purpose,” added Shayne Mann, Co-CEO of Singularity South Africa.

Looking ahead, the summit concluded with a clear call to turn insight into action and announced that the 2026 event will take place on Wednesday, 21 and Thursday, 22 October 2026 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg. Delegates left with new horizons, refreshed purpose and early plans to return next year.

For regular updates, follow Singularity South Africa on social media @singularityusouthafrica. To join the Singularity community of changemakers, or to learn more, visit singularityusouthafricasummit.org.

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A full day of thought-provoking keynote talks and panel discussions explored the cutting edge of AI, spatial computing, robotics, and digital transformation, giving delegates a glimpse into the technologies reshaping business, society, and human potential. From practical demonstrations to forward-looking insights, the Summit offered a unique platform for leaders to engage with global experts, exchange ideas, and consider how emerging innovations can be responsibly applied for real-world impact.

Some of the Key Learnings Included the Following:

Navigating Instability and Redefining Africa’s Economic Future

Opening the Summit, David Roberts reflected on the unpredictable nature of national disruption and its impact on business and society. Drawing from decades of studying conflict, he noted that instability often emerges from within nations rather than through foreign intervention, as seen in Myanmar and Sudan. He highlighted the potential consequences of a Taiwan–China conflict, given Taiwan’s dominance in advanced chip production, to illustrate global fragility.

Shifting focus to Africa, Roberts addressed South Africa’s low growth and the continent’s untapped potential, urging leaders to consider a shared currency between South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria to drive integration and stability. He stressed that technology could also tackle corruption and crime, while collective leadership is vital to retain young talent and rebuild trust. His key message was clear: Africa’s progress depends on courage, collaboration, and decisive leadership to turn volatility into long-term opportunity.

Human Centred Leadership for an African Future

Celiwe Ross, Director: Group Strategy, Sustainability, People and Public Affairs at Old Mutual, shared that leadership needs to combine technology and empathy to uplift people in changing times. She explained that Old Mutual’s priority is to improve financial wellness for individuals, families, and communities through accessible tools that support real-life needs. Ross highlighted the important shift from selling products to forming trusted relationships that recognise customers as part of interconnected communities, guided by the African value of Ubuntu.

Ross advocated that African markets require solutions built for local realities, noting that by 2050, one in four people in the world would be African, many of whom live and work within informal economies. In addition to the importance of investing in innovation, Ross emphasised that leadership success is defined by the positive change it inspires in others, keeping humanity at the centre of transformation.

Harnessing the Power of Cognitive Computing

Aaron Frank explored how cognitive computing is redefining the relationship between humans and machines. He explained that while traditional AI systems focus on logic and prediction, cognitive systems learn context, emotion, and intent, allowing for richer collaboration between people and technology. Frank reflected on how this evolution will impact industries such as education, healthcare, and finance, where human insight and machine intelligence can combine to deliver far more personalised solutions.

He encouraged leaders to view AI not as a competitor but as an amplifier of human capability, able to handle complexity at scale while freeing people to focus on creativity and problem-solving. Frank’s takeaway for African innovators was that embracing cognitive computing can accelerate progress, provided ethics, inclusivity, and human purpose remain at the centre of innovation.

The New Frontier of Human-AI Collaboration

Anita Schjøll Abildgaard challenged delegates to rethink their relationship with AI, framing it as a creative partner rather than a tool. She shared insights from her experience developing AI systems that assist scientists in research, illustrating how machine learning can unlock new forms of discovery. Abildgaard emphasised that trust and transparency are essential for humans to collaborate effectively with AI, particularly as systems become more autonomous and influential in decision-making.

She argued that the future of progress depends less on building smarter machines and more on designing better partnerships between people and technology. Her closing thought was that Africa’s greatest opportunity lies not in replicating global AI models but in developing human-centric approaches that reflect the continent’s diversity, ingenuity, and values.

Evolving Intelligence: The Next Leap in AI Innovation

Ashley Anthony highlighted how evolutionary algorithms are reshaping innovation by allowing software to improve itself through digital “natural selection.” Drawing inspiration from Google’s Alpha Evolve project, he showed how this approach enables algorithms to outperform traditional models within days, creating unique, adaptive intellectual property for businesses. Beyond technical impact, Anthony underscored AI’s human value, freeing people from routine tasks to reclaim meaningful time in their lives.

His demonstration of an offline, low-cost exam-marking app for under-resourced South African schools illustrated how context-driven design can achieve real-world results. By evolving both technology and purpose, Anthony urged leaders to see AI not only as a competitive edge but as a tool to enhance human potential, balance, and well-being.

Designing the Intimacy Economy

Cathy Hackl explored how AI and spatial computing are transforming the way people connect, both with technology and each other. She described a future where AI agents, avatars, and spatial interfaces blend the digital and physical worlds, enabling deeper intellectual, emotional, and even spiritual forms of intimacy. Hackl argued that society is moving beyond the attention economy into an “intimacy economy,” where connection and authenticity define value.

She also addressed complex ethical frontiers, from AI companions to grief support and assistive technologies, urging designers to approach these spaces with empathy and care. Her vision placed humans, not machines, at the centre of innovation, calling for intentional design that enhances human connection rather than replacing it.

Africa’s AI Advantage: Bold Vision, Real Impact

Maureen Costello, Vice President of Google Cloud for the UK, Ireland, and Sub-Saharan Africa, shared how Google’s near-complete $1 billion investment in Africa’s digital transformation is laying the foundation for AI-driven growth. From the Equiano subsea cable to the new Johannesburg Cloud region, she illustrated how infrastructure and access to advanced AI models like Gemini are empowering businesses, researchers, and students across the continent.

Costello outlined Africa’s opportunity to leapfrog legacy systems by embracing AI responsibly and collaboratively, with a focus on education, healthcare, and entrepreneurship. Her message was clear: Africa’s AI future depends on bold application, responsible governance, and shared partnerships that turn digital potential into inclusive economic progress.

Preparing for the Age of AGI

Peter Xing examined the economic and societal shifts expected as Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) approaches, with experts predicting major breakthroughs before 2030. He discussed the dual potential of AGI, from abundance and productivity to disruption and displacement, and urged leaders to plan probabilistically across multiple futures. Xing outlined how AI is already transforming industries, driving automation, and redefining work, while creating new demands for infrastructure, governance, and ethical foresight.

He argued that survival and success will depend on adaptability, distributed energy and compute capacity, and human alignment at every level of innovation. His closing insight reframed AGI not as an endpoint but as a test of humanity’s ability to steer technology towards longevity, equity, and collective advancement.

Robotics, Live in Action

Adam Pantanowitz introduced delegates to a new generation of robotic colleagues: Maximus, a humanoid capable of complex industrial and service tasks, alongside two canine robots, Murphy and Mavis. Highlighting their practical and playful applications in logistics, security, and social care, he emphasized that these machines act as co-pilots, enhancing human capacity, safety, and creativity rather than replacing people.

The summit continues in Johannesburg on Thursday, 23 October, with the event being screened concurrently, live in the UBU metaverse.

For regular updates, follow Singularity South Africa on social media @singularityusouthafrica. To join the Singularity community of changemakers, or to learn more, visit singularityusouthafricasummit.org.

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