In In this episode of iAfrikan Bytes, we sit down with Professor Benjamin Rosman, Director of the newly launched Machine Intelligence and Neural Discovery Institute (MIND) at Wits University, to unpack the future of robotics and machine learning in Africa.

Rosman dives deep into developments at the intersection of AI and robotics, from cutting-edge research to real-world applications. He compares Africa’s advancements to global players like Boston Dynamics and Unitree, offering a grounded but optimistic view of the continent’s potential to lead in select niches.

The conversation explores both hardware and software breakthroughs, with a strong emphasis on the commercial opportunities that lightweight robots can bring to Africa’s SMME landscape. Rosman makes a powerful case for why robotics isn’t just a high-tech dream, it’s an actionable pathway for innovation, job creation, and solving local challenges.