Abstract
The impact of artificial intelligence is being felt worldwide, and this rapidly advancing technology is gradually becoming a part of human life. This has led to a situation where machines are starting to behave and think like humans. Machines can now outperform world-class chess champions, converse like humans, and solve mathematical problems. However, there are currently no specific laws that regulate the use of AI in South Africa. As AI continues to become more prevalent, the need for regulation to govern its use is also becoming increasingly important. The lack of governance around AI has created uncertainty in terms of interpreting and applying the law, which sets a bad precedent of the law's ability to protect humans against AI. Therefore, this study investigates the effects of leaving AI unregulated in South Africa by considering various pieces of legislation as well as case law. The uniqueness of AI also prompts this study to examine the properties of this technology and its character under different classifications of the law. This study finally carries out a comparative evaluation between the South African AI legal landscape and that of the European Union.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI): regulation; technology