Future Shift Labs Co-founder Sagar Vishnoi addresses IPE25 in Cape Town (Photo: Business Wire)

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Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming political campaigns worldwide, creating unprecedented opportunities while amplifying risks for democratic processes. According to the newly launched policy paper, The Pervasive Influence of AI on Global Political Campaigns 2024, AI-driven techniques, such as generative AI (genAI), have revolutionized voter engagement through personalized messaging. However, genAI has also emerged as a double-edged sword: while enabling effective campaigning, it has been a significant source of disinformation, eroding trust in democratic institutions.

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For instance, the United States, classified as “severely polarized” and ranked 3rd among 28 countries for polarization, illustrates how AI-generated propaganda exacerbates societal divisions. Further, the U.S. ranks 1st in distrust of social media, exposing vulnerabilities to AI-driven disinformation campaigns. Russia’s Foreign Influence and Malign Interference (FIMI) activities have prominently leveraged AI tools to spread targeted propaganda. Generative AI platforms like “Doppelganger” have repeatedly been used to sow disinformation and undermine public trust globally. The study underscores the urgent need for governments to regulate AI in elections to prevent future misuse and safeguard democratic integrity.

The policy paper, authored by Alisha Butala, Dr. Christopher Nehring, and Mateusz Łabuz, was developed by Future Shift Labs, a global think tank exploring AI and governance. Officially unveiled on the 23 of January at the IPE Campaign Expo 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa, the paper provides actionable insights and global case studies. It emphasizes the importance of clear regulations, ethical standards, and investment in public education to combat AI-enabled electoral interference.

Nitin Narang, Founder of Future Shift labs who played a pivotal role in bringing this project to fruition, remarked: “At its core, this research is about people – voters, citizens, and communities. Our team’s work is driven by a shared commitment to understanding how AI is reshaping our democratic landscape. By shedding light on these critical issues, we hope to contribute to a more informed, inclusive, and resilient global conversation.”

Dr. Israel Govender, a thought leader in technology governance, added: “As we reflect on AI’s rapid evolution, our choices today will shape the future of democracy. This research provides a critical perspective on the impact of technology on our values and institutions, serving as a valuable resource for responsible innovation.”

Sagar Vishnoi, Co-founder of Future Shift Labs, and Glen Mpani, organizer of IPE 2025, were present at the launch, reinforcing the think tank’s commitment to fostering global discussions on AI governance, transparency, and accountability. Vishnoi notes “Blockchain technology will become the base for other applications in political campaigns, blending seamlessly into the ecosystem, much like AI’s current role.”

Future Shift Labs is an emerging global think tank dedicated to advancing AI policies and integrating digital statecraft with cutting-edge technologies. The IPE Campaign Expo 2025, renowned for showcasing political innovations, and Kairos Communications, as the principal partner, provided the perfect platform for this milestone launch.

 

 

 

SARS commissioner Edward Kieswetter.

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The government is “not organised to win,” and the presidency must be more proactive to ensure technology is adopted to increase efficiency.

This is according to South African Revenue Services (SARS) commissioner Edward Kieswetter, speaking yesterday at the Microsoft AI Tour in Johannesburg.

Talking about the adoption of technology and the importance of overarching vision and strategy, Kieswetter said only the Presidency has the authority to set clear government key performance indicators (KPIs) and to make the entire Cabinet approachable and accountable.

“Government is not organised to win… it is organised in functional, segregated silos, often with competing KPIs that make them pursue issues in the narrow interests of the department, rather than leveraging the whole government.”

The commissioner said the presidency should set clear ‘whole of government’ KPIs to hold the entire Cabinet accountable, rather than individual KPIs for each department or minister.

He added, “Only the presidency can sponsor the whole of government-enabling infrastructure, without which we cannot have interdisciplinary and cross-functional collaboration. For example, we’re really pushing hard for the unique digital identity for every South African and every business. We don’t have that yet.”

Secondly, Kieswetter added, a common portal for access to all government services is needed, as are “common datapoints with only one version of the truth, for every person or jurisdictional person.”.

He said there is a need for a single platform to track all engagement—whether it is consumption of government services or supplying services to government.

“We would advocate a single platform and a single dispersing system. SARS disperses over R400 billion in refunds, and we do so with high stability and integrity…the only time we get it wrong is when the taxpayer tries to fool us.

“Government, in addition to having this enormous resource called the refund system, gives money to citizens through NSFAS, SASSA, TERS (UIF fund), and all of that is riddled with corruption and inefficiency and cost. Until we have a unified vision, the whole of government will not work, and I’m pleased to see that realisation is now dawning, and I’m hoping as the whole of government we can move towards this.”

Kieswetter also provided some background on how SARS is adopting technology to enable its revenue collections, with over R2 trillion collected and over R400 billion paid out in refunds in the last fiscal year.

“We have over 200 interconnected sites, deploying 14,000 end-user devices and serving more than 33 million taxpayers with an uptime of 99.9%. Every day, our 250 systems and applications handle 232 million messages, our 6,600 databases process 1.2 billion records, and our 3,000 servers store over 30 petabytes of data, or about 15 times the Netflix movie library.

“That gives you the scale of what happens under the hood. We wouldn’t be able to do that without smartly embracing and deploying technology at data sites and every AI technology we can lay our hands on.”

In addition to explaining how the revenue service has adopted machine learning to enable five million taxpayers to be automatically assessed, without needing to submit any documents, Kieswetter said this is something he ultimately wants to see rolled out for all taxpayers.

The Lwazi SARS chatbot was upgraded in November by integrating Azure and OpenAI services, he said, adding it had already generated 300,000 responses to users in just two months.

The first phase is to provide general advice and guidance, pulling from policies and reference documents. The next phase, he outlined, is to introduce hyper-personalisation, so the system can access every taxpayer’s personal record and provide individualised responses. “We will deploy that this year.”

Biometrics will also be introduced, said Kieswetter, particularly live facial recognition, to reduce fraud and improve taxpayer experience.

“Registration of a taxpayer is not a risk-free transaction for us [SARS],” he said. “People register for VAT, for example, with the only intent of defrauding the refund system. So, we constantly have to balance risk and service, and AI technologies allow us to do that.

“People have tried to con the system by putting photographs or other images, and the intelligent liveliness technologies behind that caught them out; in a number of cases, we’re pursuing it for further criminal investigation for fraudulent registration.”

 

 

 

TikTok is restoring services in the US after a reprieve from president-elect Donald Trump.

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TikTok has restored services in the US after a brief ban, thanks to a reprieve from president-elect Donald Trump.

Trump, who previously served as the 45th president of the United States, is set to take the oath of office for a second non-consecutive term, becoming the country’s 47th president today.

During his pre-inauguration rally in Washington, DC, yesterday, Trump said the social media app helped him win the youth vote. “Republicans have never won the youth vote; they win a lot of votes but not the youth vote. We won the youth vote by 36 points, so I like TikTok.”

Trump said saving TikTok means saving jobs and businesses. “Frankly, we have no choice. We have to save it.”

He added that the US will seek a joint venture to restore the short video-sharing app used by 170 million Americans, with the US having a 50% ownership position.

According to Reuters, Trump said an executive order would specify there would be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before his order.

Trump had earlier said he would most likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he took office, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.

TikTok users in the US were unable to access the app on Sunday and were met with an automated message that the app was unavailable for download. “A law banning the app had been enacted. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned.”

The ban, which was signed into law by outgoing president Joe Biden last April, cited national security concerns related to TikTok’s China-based owner, ByteDance.

However, with Trump’s intervention, TikTok is now working with the incoming administration to find a solution that will keep the app operational in the US.

The app issued a statement to express gratitude to Trump for “saving” it: “In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over seven million small businesses to thrive.

“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”

TikTok’s public thanks to Trump, the day before he takes office, comes at a tense moment in US-China relations.

Trump has said he intends to place tariffs on China but has also indicated he hopes to have more direct contact with China’s leader, according to Reuters.

Some TikTok users in the US shared how the app has changed their lives for the better. “I want to thank you for giving me a platform to share my story on how I live with Parkinson’s Disease. I’ve generated some awareness for Parkinson’s, for fitness,” said one user.

South African-born tech billionaire Elon Musk also took to X (formerly known as Twitter) to share that he has always been against the TikTok ban.

In April last year, Musk said TikTok should not be banned in the US, even though such a ban may benefit the X platform.

He added that doing so would be contrary to freedom of speech and expression, saying that’s not what America stands for.

Quoting his previous tweet and emphasising his stance on the TikTok ban, Musk said, “I have been against a TikTok ban for a long time because it goes against freedom of speech. That said, the current situation where TikTok is allowed to operate in America, but X is not allowed to operate in China, is unbalanced. Something needs to change.”

LG Electronics, working with Qualcomm Technologies, introduced the ground-breaking Cross Domain Controller (xDC) platform for vehicles at CES 2025 in Las Vegas.

Based on Qualcomm Technologies’ Snapdragon Ride Flex system-on-chip (SoC), which pre-integrates the Snapdragon Ride automated driving stack and computer vision, this cutting-edge solution incorporates LG’s In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI) system and Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) into a single controller. The xDC platform is set to redefine vehicle performance and elevate the mobility experience.

Due to the increasing complexity of modern vehicles, the need for a central computer that can efficiently manage diverse functionalities has become paramount. The Flex SoC addresses this need, presenting a single SoC with pre-integrated ADAS, automated driving capabilities, and an open platform offering support for digital cockpit and IVI.

By utilising Qualcomm Technologies’ flexible, multifunctional chipset, LG’s xDC platform can process data from IVI and ADAS systems rapidly and concurrently, enhancing the overall driving experience. Along with providing a more efficient mobility experience, this single-SoC innovation reduces component costs. The xDC platform also delivers the proactive assistance of “ADAS confidence view,” which combines 3D and 2D graphics to help drivers maintain focus on the road.

The platform allows drivers and front-seat passengers to access a wide range of information through the vehicle’s main display, easily and intuitively. This includes critical ADAS alerts, such as distance to the vehicle ahead and lane departure warnings, as well as alternative routes based on real-time traffic conditions. The system can even provide useful lifestyle information, such as promotions from frequently visited stores, to make each journey more enjoyable.

All in one

A highly capable “all-in-one” system that can simultaneously handle multiple vehicle functions such as navigation, safety systems, and ADAS features, the new xDC is the result of close cooperation between LG and Qualcomm Technologies. The Flex SoC, which has obtained Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL)-D certification—an international safety standard—contributes significantly to xDC’s ability to deliver reliable support for critical in-vehicle functions.

At CES 2025, LG and Qualcomm Technologies demonstrated the xDC platform in their respective private showcases. Establishing a new standard for integrated IVI and ADAS systems, the xDC platform efficiently manages and controls complex system functions and is expected to play a pivotal role in the coming software-defined vehicle era.

Looking ahead, the two companies aim to strengthen their leadership in the IVI and ADAS sectors by developing tailored solutions that meet the diverse needs of car manufacturers. Through component integration and design optimisation, LG and Qualcomm Technologies plan to deliver competitive, high-performance technologies that will help define future mobility.

“The xDC platform, which leverages the cutting-edge Snapdragon Ride Flex SoC, offers automakers a flexible solution that simplifies complex systems while enhancing the driving experience,” said Eun Seok-hyun, president of the LG Vehicle Solution Company. “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies sets a new benchmark for the industry, redefining the driving experience.”

Snapdragon and Snapdragon Ride are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm. Snapdragon Ride and Snapdragon Ride Flex are products of Qualcomm Technologies and/or its subsidiaries.

About LG Electronics Vehicle Solution Company
The LG Vehicle Solution (VS) Company is revolutionising the automotive industry with its human-centric innovations. As a trusted and innovative partner, the VS Company offers intelligent and environmentally responsible solutions, including in-vehicle infotainment, display, connectivity, ADAS, and software solutions for software-defined vehicles. Committed to “driving better future mobility,” the company is diversifying its portfolio to enhance its capabilities through acquisitions such as automotive lighting systems provider ZKW Group and vehicle cybersecurity company Cybellum, as well as the joint venture LG Magna e-Powertrain. For more news on LG, visit www.LG.com/global/mobility.

A team from Switzerland will next month begin a road trip across South Africa in a Tesla Model X 100, which will pull a 3t trailer capable of supplying power to the vehicle as it crisscrosses the country.

The road trip, the brainchild of Swiss former schoolteacher Louis Palmer, will depart from Cape Town on 9 February. It will take in Mossel Bay before turning north through the Free State, into Gauteng (visiting Johannesburg around 25 February) and on to the Kruger National Park before concluding the journey at Durban’s port on the east coast. The idea is to visit as many schools, universities, clean energy sites, and other climate solutions across the country as possible.

Palmer famously built a solar-powered car, the Solartaxi, and spent a year and a half between 2007 and 2008 driving it around the world, earning him a “Champion of the Earth” award from the United Nations for his efforts to spread the word about the urgency of dealing with human-induced climate change.

Previously responsible for organising the world’s largest electric car rally (in Switzerland and Germany), Palmer told TechCentral in an interview this week that during Covid he came up with the idea to build a second solar-powered car, this time using a trailer bedecked with solar panels that can unfurl when stationary for maximum power generation.

Called the SolarButterfly, the trailer won’t always provide enough energy for the Model X’s journey—the plan is to top up the vehicle using South Africa’s fast-expanding electric vehicle (EV) charging network—but it will assist the team to reduce its reliance on grid-supplied power.

The 3t trailer is 3m long and includes living quarters, a small space to sleep, and a small kitchen and bathroom.

90 countries

The SolarButterfly has already traversed several countries and regions, including Central America, Mexico, the US, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Turkey, and (most recently) India. The trailer is currently on a ship from India to Cape Town for the South African leg of the epic around-the-world journey.

“We want to go across 90 countries in six continents in four or five years,” Palmer told TechCentral. The aim is to reach as many people as possible along the way to talk about sustainability and climate change.

The SolarButterfly has 40 sq m of solar panels on its “wings,” which can generate 7 kW of electricity in ideal conditions. There are additional panels on board that add and produce a further 7kW when laid out on the ground—for a total of 14kW of maximum solar production. This should be enough to give the car up to 220 km of range, or more than the average planned daily travel distance of 150 km. However, the team will lean on EV charging infrastructure, particularly if the sun isn’t shining or if longer distances are being travelled.

Watch the SolarButterfly in action

Key technical specifications of the SolarButterfly:

• It has a kitchen, toilet, shower, running water and up to six beds;
• It uses lightweight but high-yield solar cells. The panels weigh 4.3 kg per square metre, compared to 16 kg for conventional panels made with glass;
• The shower reuses the energy from the used hot water to save 60% of energy compared to a conventional shower.
• It turns into a “butterfly” at the push of a button;
• Its large wingspan helps collect the sun’s energy.
• It produces enough energy to drive up to 220 km/day.
• It was designed and built by Swiss universities and engineers, and
• It was constructed in part from 800 kg of recycled and specially processed plastic bottles found in the ocean and used in the walls, panels, and furniture of the SolarButterfly.

The team expects to conclude the cross-country journey in Durban on 10 March, where the Model X and the SolarButterfly will be loaded onto a boat for the next leg of the global tour.

Vodacom Group and Orange, France’s largest mobile telecommunications operator, plan to work together to deploy solar-powered base stations in one of Africa’s most underdeveloped countries.

In a joint statement on Tuesday, the telecoms groups said they had “joined hands” to form a rural “towerco” to provide mobile services in the vast rural Democratic Republic of Congo, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa – it’s nearly twice the size of South Africa, and 70% of it is covered in tropical rainforest.

“Through the partnership, the companies will collaborate to build, own and operate solar-powered mobile base stations in underserved areas of the DRC. The initiative will extend network coverage and enable access to telecoms and mobile financial services to up to 19 million people in less densely populated rural communities,” the companies said.

“Deploying and operating networks, particularly in deep rural areas, continues to be a significant challenge in the DRC. To bridge the digital divide and expand network coverage in underserved communities, the companies have pledged jointly to construct up to 2 000 new solar-powered base stations over six years, using 2G and 4G technologies,” they added.

The companies have already agreed to an initial roll-out of a thousand high sites, which may be followed by a thousand more. The completion of the project is subject to the approval of administrative, regulatory, and competition authorities.

Anchor tenants

“With the first base station expected to start operating in 2025, Orange and Vodacom will be sharing active and passive equipment owned by the joint venture as anchor tenants for an initial term of 20 years. The joint venture will offer its passive infrastructure to any mobile network operator interested wherever technically feasible to increase usage and promote a wider range of options for the population.”

Mobile internet penetration in the DRC is just 32.3% of the population. – © 2025 NewsCentral Media