​Kick off 2026 with AISSA!

​Join us as we launch an exciting new year for AISSA. We have some big things underway, including the first-ever Cooperative AI Research Fellowship (CAIRF) and a brand-new co-working home at Workshop17 on Kloof Street.

​To celebrate, we’re hosting a relaxed community mixer featuring short talks from key members of our ecosystem.

​
Speaker line-up:

• ​Keynote by Saskia Bestgen, managing director of Bestgen Consulting. Her talk sits at the intersection of AI, cybersecurity and geopolitics, exploring how cyber operations become a key instrument of state power and how AI is accelerating associated risks. She sheds light on ways forward, such as governance, cooperation and resilience measures. 

• ​We’ll hear from Claude Formanek and Tegan Green about the Cooperative AI Research Fellowship, a pioneer program directed by Leo Hyams. The program has attracted global talent and world-class mentors from organisations such as Google DeepMind, MIT and the University of Oxford. 

• ​We’ll conclude with an inspiring demo by Daniel von Eschwege from PsyTechArt: his innovative musical creation merges man and machine - you don’t want to miss this!

​There will be facilitated breakout conversations with the speakers as well as the AISSA and CAIRF team.

​Come connect, catch up, and toast to the year ahead — refreshments will be provided.

NB: Due to limited spots - acceptance to the event is subject to approval :)