South Africa has withdrawn its first draft national artificial intelligence policy after it emerged that the document contained fictitious sources in its reference list, raising concerns about the unchecked use of AI in official work.
Solly Malatsi, the Communications minister, said the most likely explanation was that AI generated citations were included without proper checks.
“The most plausible explanation is that AI generated citations were included without proper verification. This should not have happened,” he said, according to Reuters.
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The draft policy, released earlier this month for public comment, was meant to set out South Africa’s ambitions to lead on AI development across the continent. It also aimed to address the ethical, social and economic risks associated with the fast-growing technology.
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Among its proposals were plans to create new bodies such as a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board and an AI Regulatory Authority. It also outlined incentives, including tax breaks, grants, and subsidies to encourage private sector investment.
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