Towards the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT): a review of the ethical and societal implications at the convergence of AI and IoT technologies in South Africa

Abstract

The convergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a theoretical future for South Africa, but a reality reshaping key sectors. This thesis confirms and documents the adoption of the AIoT through an analysis of specific industries. The findings reveal a dynamic technological uptake driven by the private sector, which paints a compelling picture of a nation poised to harness the AIoT for significant economic gains, enhanced productivity and improved service delivery. However, the integration of such a powerful technological force is not without consequences. Specifically, the adoption of the AIoT carries context-specific ethical and societal effects. This thesis goes beyond a generic ethical checklist to investigate concerns uniquely pertinent to South Africa’s socio-economic fabric. The thesis argues that the AIoT is not a neutral tool but an amplifier of historical injustices. The analysis identifies the interconnected crises of digital colonialism, algorithmic apartheid, environmental injustice and surveillance capitalism. Collectively, these forces threaten to undermine human rights and re-entrench structural inequalities. Confronted with this dual narrative of opportunity and risk, this thesis culminates in a set of policy recommendations. Informed by a comparative benchmarking of the AIoT governance across six African nations, the study identifies a critical strategic gap in South Africa’s current fragmented policy landscape. The study argues that an integrated roadmap, based on proactive, context-sensitive and ethically grounded governance, is essential. This approach is necessary to ensure South Africa's AIoT landscape is not only technologically advanced but also equitable, just and aligned with its constitutional values.