The state of artificial intelligence research in South Africa

This article presents the results of a scientometric investigation of the field of artificial intelligence (AI) in South Africa over the period 2013–2022. Such investigations inform policy and research management development and assist researchers to identify topics for investigation, collaborating organisations, etc. The Liu et al. methodology (Scientometrics 2021;126:3153–3192) was used for the identification of AI documents. The approach is appropriate for a growing discipline with constantly expanding terminology. The activity index was estimated to reveal the contribution of South African researchers in the field of AI, taking into account the country’s scientific size and the world’s involvement in the field. Finally, a content analysis of the titles of South African publications was employed to reveal the domains of emphasis and weakness within South African research in the field. Significance: The field of AI is growing in South Africa. During 2022, South Africa produced over 1000 relevant publications in the field of AI. The activity index revealed that South Africa should substantially increase this contribution in order to make a contribution proportional to its scientific size and the world’s average productivity in the field. The majority of the AI publications were produced by South African universities, and spread among several universities. Comparisons with prolific organisations internationally show that South Africa produces only a fraction of the research produced worldwide. International funders have been found to be important in the field but may not be appropriate for a research field close to commercialisation. The content analysis revealed the lack of investigations related to coordination and alignment of AI research and national policy. © 2025. The Author(s).