How South Africans Are Leveraging Artificial Intelligence

Greetings, Moneyweb readers! I’m excited to present my first AI column (and rest assured, it’s not written by AI) …

We’ve all played the adulting game of Tetris, trying to juggle commitments, like finding a school event hidden in a PDF sent at the start of term that conflicts with a new obligation. This year, I tackled this challenge by uploading that PDF to ChatGPT in January and asking for an importable calendar file.

The seamless import process was incredibly satisfying. The sheer joy of managing my personal admin felt delightful.

This encapsulates the current landscape of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in South Africa and beyond—far from the destructive job chaos depicted by sensational news headlines.

AI is becoming a practical tool woven into the fabric of everyday life in South Africa, whether we actively seek it for solutions or, at times unknowingly, enjoy its subtle improvements in our routines.

Read: What constitutes a good AI prompt?

Everyday South Africans are discovering targeted, realistic strategies to save time and money, address challenges, or seize opportunities through AI. I have a genuine passion for AI and enjoy discussing people’s experiences with it.

Years ago, pursuing AI courses invited criticism, so it warms my heart today to hear others enthusiastically share their AI applications. I thought it would be beneficial to compile and share various practical examples.

AI adoption frequently occurs through imitation—we look at prompts or applications others have used and adapt them for our requirements.

We also turn to innovators and thought leaders who introduce remarkable new strategies as we navigate this new era. Here are a few:

As many households strive to stretch their budgets further, some are using AI to uncover hidden savings and thrift opportunities.

The prompt: “Analyze my uploaded bank statements and grocery receipts to help me optimize my spending, suggest savings, and assist me until my next payday.”

The results: Nearly R1,000 in effortless savings. A friend used claude.ai and discovered she was racking up unnecessary bank fees by selecting the wrong ATMs and making too many small transactions each month.

The AI pointed out her grocery bills escalated when she shopped while hungry at the more expensive Engen food stop and recommended switching from Woolworths to Checkers for everyday purchases while reserving Woolworths for special occasions.

• Following Up on Unpaid Invoices via WhatsApp

Small business owners face cash flow issues when customers delay or ignore payments, prompting some to adopt AI-powered WhatsApp agents for overdue invoice reminders without damaging client relationships.

The prompt: “Compose empathetic WhatsApp messages for clients with overdue invoices that maintain professional relationships while prompting payment. Gradually escalate the tone from friendly reminders to firmer requests. Always include payment plan options and keep a respectful tone.”

The results: Karen, a WhatsApp agent from sagentics.ai, helped a plumber in Johannesburg recover R89,000 in overdue payments within two weeks using automated WhatsApp follow-ups. The AI agent achieved a 67% response rate on WhatsApp, compared to just 23% with traditional email reminders, and remarkably, 78% of clients who interacted with the WhatsApp agent continued their business relationship.

• Enhancing Services Through Customer Data Analysis

Hospitality businesses are leveraging AI to analyze countless guest reviews, providing actionable design recommendations and facilitating data-driven property enhancements.

The prompt: “Examine the last thousand guest reviews from our hotel using natural language processing. Identify frequent words, seasonal trends, and demographic correlations. Connect specific design elements to satisfaction scores and suggest prioritized actions to minimize negative reviews while boosting positive experiences.”

The results: Venturen, a property fund in Cape Town, utilized AI to analyze over 3,000 reviews from their flagship Latitude Aparthotel. They uncovered insights beyond human context—confusing light switches and chilly winter windows correlated with negative feedback, while the unexpectedly significant impact of high-quality balcony furniture was linked to excellent ratings. They integrated these insights with architectural designs, employing AI to assess layouts, lighting, and usability for new aparthotels in Cape Town and Budapest.

• Children Engaging with a Learning Assistant

A teacher recently garnered attention for using Midjourney to transform student headshots into older versions of themselves in their dream careers.

Kids and their parents are incorporating AI into homework sessions. Each learner processes information differently, so presenting concepts through storytelling helps retain foundational knowledge. With AI, we need to remember less, but we can enhance our ability to prompt and engage.

The prompt: “Explain [concept] in a way that’s easy to understand for [audience type]. Use analogies, step-by-step insights, and interactive questions to reinforce learning. Break complex ideas into manageable segments and provide practical examples.”

It’s encouraging to see established educational institutions embracing augmented learning through AI. Here’s a fantastic introductory course on AI provided by Wharton professors.

The Practical Takeaway

These examples underscore a vital point about AI adaptation in South Africa—true success arises from addressing specific, well-defined everyday challenges rather than pursuing grand automation dreams. The most effective users start small and evolve through their own trials.

Whether refining your budget or expanding a business, the core principle remains consistent—AI amplifies human intelligence instead of replacing it. Mastering the prompting interface is where the real magic unfolds.

Read:
AI in Action: Google identifies opportunities in SA
Apple plans expansion into AI robotics, home security, and smart displays
Utilizing AI as a junior analyst

In a nation filled with challenges to tackle, particularly in education and small business sectors, there’s perhaps no better place to start than by having your first conversation with ChatGPT or Claude about the issues that keep you awake at night, even if it’s just your next scheduling conflict in Google Calendar.

Give it a shot … Let me know what you find out.

• Murray Legg is a technology entrepreneur and investor. He is the head of strategy and product at Webfluential, a marketplace for the creator economy.

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