Singularity Summit 2024: AI, Blockchain, and Future Innovations

The Singularity South Africa Summit that returns in physical form on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, in collaboration with Old Mutual, is a few days away. The bold plans for the summit were revealed, including over 50 prolific speakers, robotic displays, interactive experiences, many of which are a South African first, and a metaverse track, another global first for a local event of this magnitude.

Building on the stellar line up of global and local thought leaders that will address artificial intelligence (AI) in great detail, decentralized identity, disruptive innovation, longevity mindset, scaling AI in the workplace, web3, metaverse, leadership, blockchain and the future of ESG and sustainability, additional speakers have been added to complete the roster, bringing the total speakers to over 50.

The impressive lineup of additional speakers, each bringing unique expertise to the table includes Nchaupe Khaole, Chief Investment Officer at Mineworkers Investment Company, Jacob Hinson renowned-African Investor and Dr. Rutendo Hwindingwi, CEO and Founder of Tribe Africa Advisory, who will both delve into the evolving landscape of venture capital in Africa, exploring the opportunities and challenges for growth in the region. Gilan Gork, a mentalist and bestselling author, will share insights on leveraging a growth mindset in an exponentially evolving world, while Dr. Reshma Sheoraj, Vice President for Strategic Engagements at World Data Lab, will offer a glimpse into the data-driven future with her talk on “The World of Tomorrow in Data.”

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Plans Announced for Singularity Summit 2024

I attended the media launch of Singularity South Africa the other day, and true to its promise to bring business leaders the latest innovations and bleeding edge breakthroughs in exponential technologies, Singularity South Africa has announced the plans for the upcoming Summit, that will return in physical format this year, in collaboration with Old Mutual. With over 1 500 delegates expected, the popular summit will take place on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 October 2024 at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Continuing its strategic focus to future proof Africa and leverage the latest innovations to solve the global challenges, the first ten international and local speakers have been announced.

World-renowned cybersecurity expert, Jaya Baloo will return to the stage to share insights on guarding the digital frontier. The genius behind Stable Diffusion, Emad Mostaque, Founder of Stability AI, will address the future of decentralized and democratized AI. The food scientist, Arturo Elizondo who has made it his life’s mission to improve the global nutrition system, will tackle the future of protein in a plant-based ecosystem. Cathy Hackl, founder of Spatial Dynamics (USA) will deliver a keynote on immersion in the spatial web.

Jaya Baloo

Arturo Elizondo
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Launch of Africarare – Africa’s First Metaverse Collaboration

Boity Thulo in the Africarare Metaverse

Africarare, Africa’s first metaverse is set to unlock African creativity and connect Africa to the global digital economy. At an event in Johannesburg on 28 February 2022, plans were announced for commercialisation of the 3D virtual reality experience, that is set in Ubuntuland, a virtual world that marries creativity, cryptocurrency and commerce. 

Firstly, virtual land will soon be available to purchase and develop with MTN, Africa’s largest multinational mobile telecommunications company, joining Africarare with an upcoming 12×12 village (144 plots of real estate) secured in Ubuntuland. Additionally, M&C Saatchi Abel have entered the metaverse as the first South African advertising agency to do so. There will only ever be 204 642 plots of land available, made up of different village sizes in various community hubs. The land is positioned and priced according to a tiered value system.

Landholders will be able to customize their 3-D land spaces, such as hosting shops, producing resources, renting virtual services and developing games or other applications. Designated spaces will serve the community for work, play and wellness purposes, including state of the art meeting rooms, online therapy rooms (with optional anonymity), concert stages, film festival spaces, meditation lounges and other dynamic interactive environments. And, there’s more to come, such as staking, DAO (decentralized autonomous organization) and blockchain play-to-earn gaming.

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