AI Report on Southern Africa http://misa.org Botswana has sped up the adoption of digitalisation and e-commerce laws, including the Customs Act (2018), the Consumer Protection Act (2018), the Cybercrime and Computer Related Crimes Act (2018), the Industrial Property Act (2010), the Data Protection Act (2018), and the Competition Act (2018). This is even though the country does not have a law specifically for AI. Furthermore, the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB) has enacted regulations governing drone operations in the country. Based on these findings, Botswana deserves commendation for establishing basic policies for technology usage and, as a result, responsible AI. Feedback from the focus group discussions on AI readiness. ● The Johannesburg meeting acknowledged the significant progress made by the South African government in promoting AI policy and establishing legal frameworks. ● The key question is; is Africa ready for the adoption of AI technologies? Should this even be the conversation, seeing as the bulk of the continent is still struggling with internet access, which is key in the use and access to AI technologies? Africa has an opportunity to study and analyse AI before its full adoption to ensure that it is properly and ethically adopted. ● Africa, mainly the SADC region, has diverse cultures and operating contexts; hence, the development or adoption of AI technologies in the region must take these issues into account and ensure that these technologies are relevant, relatable, and contextual. ● Other major concerns raised by the participants were the implications of the adoption of AI on privacy, digital rights, and their potential abuse and use in mass surveillance. ● Information disorders will be on the rise due to the adoption of AI technology in the information space in SADC. ● Another concern raised during the meeting is the biases that AI possesses. Generative AI still contains several biases, particularly negative ones when it refers to Africans. Looking Ahead: The Way Forward for Southern African Countries To address the difficulties influencing AI preparedness in Africa, governments in the region must use education to close the skills gap by modifying school curricula to be more technically focused. Integrating AI training models at all levels of school would promote capacity building, talent development, and cross-sector AI projects. Furthermore, investments in digital infrastructures such as data centres and clouds would contribute to creating a more AI-friendly digital economy. Furthermore, public-private collaborations with tech behemoths and overseas start-ups speed infrastructure development. Furthermore, collaborating with and investing in local tech startups can help organisations develop the necessary skills and competencies to drive business innovation and AI initiatives. Furthermore, decreasing entrance barriers for IT businesses will ensure that Southern 19