03/10/2026
As AI becomes more autonomous, how can society address the risks without overlooking its promise?
Discussion about artificial intelligence is increasingly centered on control, cybersecurity, misinformation, critical infrastructure and accountability. Prof. Anné Verhoef, director of North-West University’s AI Hub, argues this debate must remain informed and measured. He acknowledges the significant risks especially where autonomous systems might disrupt the digital infrastructure that modern economies and societies rely on but stresses those risks should be weighed alongside AI’s proven and potential benefits in medicine, science, mathematics, education and other fields.
Rather than pursuing a blanket slowdown in AI development, Prof. Verhoef advocates targeted regulation, stronger safeguards and clear human accountability, particularly for high-risk domains such as warfare and critical systems. The conversation is ultimately larger than the technology: it’s about how governments, developers, companies and individuals choose to govern a rapidly advancing tool.
This is the kind of evidence-based dialogue that matters as AI continues to reshape society.
Leading voices, lasting impact.
