By Celani Sikhakhane
- Scientist Thando Gumede introduced Iris, an education robot that helps learners with schoolwork in all 11 official South African languages.
- Gumede said Iris won’t take teachers’ jobs but support them, with a Durban plant planned to create work and build more robots.
The unveiling of a robot teacher at the Zulu Reed Dance left King Misuzulu kaZwelithini’s regiments worried about teachers losing jobs.
The robot, named Iris, was introduced on Saturday by scientist Thando Gumede. Maidens cheered as it showed how it could help with homework, classwork and revisions.
King Misuzulu gave Gumede a platform, saying the Reed Dance is now about more than virginity testing, it is also about skills and education.
But some of the King’s regiments were uneasy. Thulani Nkwanyana, a former boxing champion known as D 3 Seconds, voiced their concerns.
“We are worried this robot could replace teachers when we already have high teacher unemployment,” he said.
Gumede told the King, the regiments and the maidens that Iris was not created to replace teachers but to assist them.
She said a production plant would be set up in Durban, creating jobs while building more Iris robots.
“Iris is here to help teachers, not take their jobs. Technology is the future and we must not be left behind,” she said.
Gumede studied in Italy for seven months before creating Iris through her company, BSG Technologies. The robot can teach subjects from grade R to tertiary level in all 11 South African languages.
Iris was first launched in Durban during Women’s Month by deputy minister of science, technology and innovation Nomalungelo Gina.
Pictured above: AI Iris robot innovator Thando Gumede and one of the Zulu regiments Thulani Nkwanyana during the introduction of Iris at the Reed Dance in Phongola on Saturday.
Image source: Thando Gumede TikTok
