15 Jul 2022
Ethical AI drives our business and our impact
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are fundamental to our business. Prosus and Naspers have published their Approach to AI Ethics, setting out the role of ethical AI in creating sustainable value.
Ethical AI drives our business and our impact
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are fundamental to our business. Prosus and Naspers have published their Approach to AI Ethics, setting out the role of ethical AI in creating sustainable value.
As technology evolves, we are deploying the power of data science to build a competitive advantage at every stage of the business cycle, from investment decisions to operations and societal impact.
“Communicating our approach to AI Ethics demonstrates our commitment to sharing best practices from the deployment of AI and ML across our portfolio of companies and positions us to continue our learning journey in ethical AI, which is continuously evolving,” said Euro Beinat, global head for AI and data science at Prosus.
As one of the world’s leading technology investors, our approach to AI Ethics recognises a responsibility to address challenges – current, emerging or still unknown – raised by the transformative impact of AI and ML on business, economies and society.
Prosus is developing systems with the potential to deliver exponential benefits for consumers and the societies in which its portfolio companies operate, and aspires to high standards of corporate citizenship.
Benefits from AI and ML include personalised AI services and enhanced functionality: predictive pricing, validation of transactions, improved logistics and operational performance, financial services, access to credit, and fraud prevention.
Five principles
The Prosus and Naspers approach to AI Ethics communicates the guiding principles that inform the work of the AI and data science teams: a force for good, technical excellence, accountability and transparency, fairness, privacy and security.
Ensuring that ethical considerations are part of AI development is crucial to preserving quality and longevity in AI products and in their performance.
We are building innovative AI and ML applications to reinforce the bonds of trust on which business depends. “Our development process is responsive to the social and ethical dimensions of AI. We are motivated by the promise of AI to build and strengthen the trust between our business and its stakeholders,” said Mr Beinat.
For more information, download the Prosus and Naspers approach to AI Ethics.
About Naspers
Established in 1915, Naspers has transformed itself to become a global consumer internet company and one of the largest technology investors in the world. Through Prosus, the group operates and invests globally in markets with long-term growth potential, building leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities. Prosus has its primary listing on Euronext Amsterdam, and a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange and Naspers is the majority owner of Prosus.
In South Africa, Naspers is one of the foremost investors in the technology sector and is committed to building its internet and ecommerce companies. These include Takealot, Mr D Food, Superbalist, Autotrader, Property24 and PayU, in addition to Media24, South Africa’s leading print and digital media business.
Naspers has a primary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (NPN.SJ), a secondary listing on the A2X Exchange (NPN.AJ) in South Africa, and has a level 1 American Depository Receipt (ADR) programme which trades on an over-the-counter basis in the United States of America.
For more information, please visit www.naspers.com.
Naspers Labs
In 2019, Naspers Labs, a youth development programme designed to transform and launch South Africa’s unemployed youth into economic activity, was launched. Naspers Labs focuses on digital skills and training, enabling young people to pursue tech careers.
Response to COVID-19
Naspers contributed R1.5 billion of emergency aid to support the South African government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This contribution consisted of R500 million towards the Solidarity Fund and R1 billion worth of PPE sourced and distributed to South Africa’s front-line healthcare workers. In addition, Naspers contributed R6.9 million to the Nelson Mandela Foundation's EachOne FeedOne programme to support families who COVID-19 has impacted with meals for a year.