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South Africa has pulled its first draft national AI policy after revelations that the reference list contained fictitious sources that appeared to have been generated by artificial intelligence. Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi said the lapse should never have happened.
Malatsi said the most plausible explanation was that AI-generated citations had been included without proper verification. He added that the failure compromised the integrity and credibility of the draft policy.
The policy had been released for public comment earlier this month and was meant to position South Africa as a continental leader in AI innovation. It also sought to address ethical, social and economic questions linked to the technology.
The draft proposed new institutions, including a National AI Commission, an AI Ethics Board and an AI Regulatory Authority. It also outlined incentives such as tax breaks, grants and subsidies to encourage private-sector collaboration.
Malatsi said there would be consequences for those responsible for drafting the policy, but did not say when a revised version would be issued. The episode underscores the need for strict human oversight when governments use AI tools in policymaking.
