ISPA Helps Boost Local AI Competitiveness

29 September 2026

ISPA, SA’s official internet Industry Representative Body (IRB), continues to lend its support to the South African Artificial Intelligence Olympiad (SAAIO) as its contribution to developing the local AI talent pool.

Founded in 1996, ISPA is South Africa’s official, recognised IRB for the country’s internet sector, with more than 250 members ranging from start-ups to large national operators.

ISPA’s support has already enabled Team South Africa to compete in the recent International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence (IOAI) in Kazakhstan, where team member Qiyuan Sun received an honourable mention.

The three learners who represented South Africa in Astana last month were selected at the 2026 SAAIO National Finals held on 15 June 2026 at the University of Johannesburg.

Next up on the local AI skills calendar is the commencement of the 2027 SAAIO programme and the opening of the Round 1 applications which close on 20 January next year.

The Olympiad is open to high school learners new to AI, as well as those with basic coding backgrounds. National Finals are scheduled for April 2027.

On ISPA’s ongoing support for the SAAIO, Aurora Vani, ISPA’s social development working group chair, explained: “AI is expanding the jobs market and creating enormous opportunities in many economic sectors. However, SA learners must be properly equipped for an AI future or else the benefits of the technology will not be realised locally.

“It is vitally important that ISPA evangelises AI education and throws its weight behind initiatives like the SAAIO to develop the AI skills of South African learners. There are clear and proven benefits to exposing local learners to competitive AI events at national and international levels, ” concluded Ms Vani.

ISPA is officially recognised by the DCDT and advocates for an open, free and competitive internet landscape. Visit  www.ispa.org.za for more information and follow ISPA on X and LinkedIin.

Please also see: https://saaio.org/.