News Bulletin of 3 September 2025, 5pm

Wits University’s Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute, or MIND, has received over 17 million rand in core funding from Google.org.
The investment will support Africa’s leading AI researchers, boost capacity-building programmes, and foster collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers.
Launched in 2024, the Wits MIND Institute has already welcomed its first cohort of 34 fellows working on over 25 projects across fields from reinforcement learning to digital humanities.
Director Professor Benjamin Rosman says the funding will help train talent, incubate innovative ideas, and ensure discoveries benefit society.
The initiative positions Africa as a key player in global AI research and policy development.

PinkDrive, with Rio Tinto and the Department of Health, is taking cancer screening directly to underresourced communities in KwaZulu-Natal, the Eastern Cape, the Northern Cape and Mpumalanga.
The mobile clinics aim to screen over 12,000 people and provide health education before the end of August.
Services include mammograms, pap smears, HPV tests, prostate and skin checks, plus blood pressure and glucose monitoring.
Medical staff can immediately refer patients for treatment, giving communities timely access to care.
Residents have welcomed the initiative, praising the opportunity to receive vital health services they would not normally reach.

Meta has introduced new safeguards for its AI chatbots to prevent discussions of sensitive topics with teenagers.
The update stops bots from engaging in conversations about suicide, self-harm, or romantic matters, instead directing young users to expert resources and helplines.
The move follows concerns over chatbots engaging minors in inappropriate interactions, including flirtatious exchanges and celebrity impersonations.
Meta says teen access to certain AI personas has been temporarily restricted while safety measures are fine-tuned.
The company emphasises that these changes are rolling out now, aiming to make AI use safer for vulnerable users.