US EditionSouth Africa withdraws AI policy after probe reveals fake, AI-generated citations
Nearly 67 references were found to be nonexistent or misattributed, prompting a restart of the policy process and renewed scrutiny of human oversight.
- Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Solly Malatsi withdrew the Draft National Artificial Intelligence Policy this week after discovering the document contained at least six AI-generated, fictitious academic citations.
- The 86-page proposal, gazetted April 10, relied on generative AI tools that produced plausible-sounding but nonexistent references; editors at the South African Journal independently confirmed the sources were fake.
- Calling the lapse unacceptable, Malatsi promised consequence management for those responsible for drafting and quality assurance, emphasizing the failure compromised the policy's credibility and proved why human oversight is critical.
- Tech expert Toby Shapshack likened the withdrawal to a "bad joke," noting the policy produced the exact outcome it aimed to prevent, mirroring a recent Australian scandal involving Deloitte.
- While the withdrawal necessitates restarting significant portions of the drafting process, experts suggest this offers an opportunity to develop a human-centered framework incorporating local philosophies such as Ubuntu.
15 Articles
15 Articles
South Africa's AI Policy Cited Fake Research, Created By AI - What Lessons Need to Be Learned
Analysis - South Africa's first attempt to establish a binding artificial intelligence (AI) policy framework came to an abrupt halt just 16 days after it was officially gazetted.
South Africa’s AI policy cited fake research, created by AI: what lessons need to be learned
Information integrity and human checks are at the heart of the matter. Alan Warburton/betterimagesofai.org/© BBC, CC BYSouth Africa’s first attempt to establish a binding artificial intelligence (AI) policy framework came to an abrupt halt just 16 days after it was officially gazetted. On 10 April, the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies published the Draft South Africa National Artificial Intelligence Policy for public comment…
South Africa withdraws AI policy over AI-generated sources
South Africa withdrew a draft artificial intelligence policy after discovering that several of its academic citations were apparently AI hallucinations, raising questions about the state’s ability to regulate the fast-growing technology.Communications Minister Solly Malatsi admitted that the department failed to spot the fabricated references before releasing the draft policy for public comment: “It’s a major embarrassment.”The withdrawn draft f…
Fallout over South Africa's AI-generated AI policy: 'It's embarrassing'
South Africa has withdrawn its draft national artificial intelligence (AI) policy after it emerged that parts of its reference list contained fake sources believed to be AI-generated. The document, released earlier this month for public comment, was meant to guide the country’s approach to AI development and regulation. The draft proposed setting up new bodies such as a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board and a regulatory authority, along…
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