Professor Vukosi Marivate, Director of the African Institute for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (AfriDSAI) based at the University of Pretoria (UP) and ABSA-UP Chair of Data Science at the University, has been appointed as a member of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
His appointment places UP at the centre of a new global mechanism designed to strengthen scientific evidence in the governance of artificial intelligence (AI).
Appointed by the United Nations General Assembly in February 2026, the panel is the first global scientific body dedicated entirely to AI and was created to produce evidence-based scientific assessments on its opportunities, risks and impacts.
The 40-member panel comprises experts drawn from more than 2,600 applicants from over 140 countries, with a wide range of specialities.
“I’m honoured to have been selected to serve on this panel,” Prof Marivate said. “I look forward to continuing to share experiences and perspectives from across the African continent, and to learning from the rich insights and expertise of my fellow panellists.”
At UP, Prof Marivate’s work focuses on building AI systems rooted in African contexts, including the development of African language models capable of processing underrepresented languages and delivering locally relevant data insights.
He is a co-founder of Lelapa AI, an African start-up advancing AI for Africans by Africans and a chief investigator at the Masakhane Research Foundation, which develops natural language processing technologies for African languages.
He also co-founded Deep Learning Indaba, a grassroots machine-learning and AI conference on the continent that supports and empowers African researchers and practitioners.
UP Vice-Chancellor and Principal Prof Francis Petersen said Prof Marivate’s appointment reinforces the university’s position as a leader in AI research.
“This appointment is a significant recognition not only of Prof Marivate’s expertise, but of the University of Pretoria’s sustained leadership in AI and data science. His work reflects our commitment to advancing responsible, inclusive and contextually relevant AI research that contributes to both global knowledge and Africa’s development. We are proud to see one of our scholars shaping international conversations on the governance of this critical technology.”
The South African government has also welcomed Prof Marivate’s appointment.
As a panel member, Prof Marivate will be contributing to global early-warning systems and evidence that will assist countries in distinguishing between hype and reality and ensure that international debates are grounded in rigorous analysis rather than speculation.
His appointment comes at a time when countries are grappling with how to govern a technology that transcends borders and traditional regulatory frameworks.
Rapid advances in machine-learning and generative AI are transforming economies, labour markets and education systems.
Prof Marivate’s presence on the panel ensures that African perspectives, languages and developmental priorities are part of the global evidence base informing AI governance.
The panel is expected to present its inaugural annual report at the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in July 2026 in Geneva, Switzerland.
