Artificial intelligence, smart cities, robotics and African innovation will take centre stage when Singularity Summit South Africa 2026 comes to the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg this October, with a new speaker line-up celebrating women in innovation and bringing together experts from across the technology landscape.
Taking place on Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026, the Summit is being presented in collaboration with Old Mutual, with UBU as its metaverse partner.
The latest speaker announcement brings together experts exploring how emerging technologies are reshaping business, cities and society, while highlighting the diverse voices helping to drive that transformation.
New Technologies Shaping the Future
Leading the conversation is Amanda Manna, one of Singularity’s foremost AI specialists. Her session, What’s Next in AI, will explore the rapid pace of artificial intelligence development and what organisations, leaders and individuals should be preparing for as the technology continues to evolve.
Acclaimed poet, author and broadcaster Lebo Mashile returns as the Summit’s Poet and MC, bringing her unique ability to connect complex technological ideas with the human stories behind them. Throughout the Summit, her role will help frame conversations around innovation through creativity, culture and imagination.
The programme will also feature internationally recognised robotics pioneer Tilly Lockey, whose remarkable journey with AI-powered bionic arms offers a powerful glimpse into how technology is transforming lives and expanding human potential.
Building Tomorrow’s World
The latest speaker line-up also explores the practical application of exponential technologies across industries, governments and communities.
Barak Kaufman, a globally recognised enterprise AI leader from Wonderful.ai, will present Moving From Pilots to Production: Closing the Execution Gap in Enterprise AI. His session will explore why many AI initiatives fail to scale and how organisations can successfully move from experimentation to measurable business impact.
Hamed Kazim will present The Future of Cities and Exponential Leadership, offering insights into how one of the world’s most ambitious cities is using technology, infrastructure and long-term planning to shape urban innovation.
Valter Adão, one of Africa’s leading voices on digital transformation, will examine how organisations can modernise at scale through the adoption of exponential technologies, helping leaders navigate increasingly complex digital environments.
Adding an inspiring African innovation story to the programme, inventor Fana Shabane will share how he designs and builds robots using recycled materials in his session, Inventing Robots: One Man’s Trash is Another’s Treasure.
His work demonstrates how creativity, resourcefulness and innovation can emerge from the most unexpected places.
Women and Changemakers Driving Innovation
The latest announcement places a spotlight on the increasingly influential role women are playing in shaping the future of technology, while bringing together a diverse group of experts across artificial intelligence, leadership, robotics, digital transformation and urban development.
Old Mutual’s Group Chief Human Capital and Corporate Affairs Officer, Celiwe Ross, says innovation is about more than advancing technology.
“Innovation is not only about advancing technology. It is about unlocking human potential and creating opportunities for people to thrive.”
Ross says it is encouraging to see more changemakers leading these conversations, challenging established thinking and helping to build solutions that are more inclusive, relevant and impactful.
According to Shayne Mann, co-CEO of Singularity South Africa, the diversity of perspectives is one of the most exciting aspects of this year’s programme.
“Innovation is strongest when it brings together different experiences, disciplines and ways of thinking.”
He says the speakers demonstrate that the future of technology is not only about breakthrough ideas, but also about the people translating those ideas into meaningful impact.
Fellow co-CEO Mic Mann says the pace of technological change means organisations need both vision and practical execution.
“From artificial intelligence and smart cities to digital transformation and home-grown innovation, delegates will gain practical insights from leaders who are actively building the future rather than simply predicting it.”
Further speakers and programme announcements will be revealed in the coming months.
Singularity Summit South Africa 2026
📍 Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg
📅 Wednesday 21 and Thursday 22 October 2026
The Summit will bring together experts exploring artificial intelligence, digital transformation, smart cities, robotics, leadership and African innovation.
For more information or to book, visit Singularity Summit South Africa.
