“Adopt how to deal with AI. Think about where your funding is going in the future. Join the movement to stop the enhanced development of AI, especially at this pace.” Janade du Plessis, Launch Africa Ventures | #APF26

“As a philanthropist, you can use your voice to slow the pace of AI to create space for policies and regulations. There must be an intersection between what humans and machines bring. You need to bring your power, influence, and money to ensure the localization of African power before AI can undertake that role.” Janade du Plessis, Launch Africa Ventures | #APF26

“The creation of robots should be driven by ethics and governance.” Janade du Plessis, Launch Africa Ventures | #APF26

“Invest in the plumbing so that the flow of information and innovation is not restricted.” Janade du Plessis, Launch Africa Ventures | #APF26

“Human judgment will fail when there’s superintelligence. The idea of decision-making needs to be made a call on. As a philanthropist, use your money right now to unlock innovation.” Janade du Plessis, Launch Africa Ventures | #APF26

“We all expect to be AI literate. Most people in decision-making aren’t tech people, so how can you make it less intimidating? In the philanthropy space, donors talk about the effectiveness of funds and tracking of the funds.” Nyimpini Mabunda, APF Board Member | #APF26

“If anyone tells you they are an expert in AI, they are lying. We are all figuring it out.” Nyimpini Mabunda, APF Board Member | #APF26

“AI has a huge role to play in role evaluation, so human judgment comes in to question things AI can’t.” Jessica Osborn, CEO, Caribou | #APF26

“The tools to decide on are quite difficult, but governance is even harder. We need to equip our people with the skills and knowledge to effectively use AI. It all starts with the values of our organisations, and it all comes down to culture and governance.” Jessica Osborn, CEO, Caribou | #APF26

“Using AI in grantmaking, we need to avoid the pitfalls of AI guiding grant proposals. AI is strong in knowledge management, so that should be the main focus when it comes to grant proposals. The substance applicants bring should embody the human element and the trust their communities have in them. Humanism is irreplaceable. Human judgment is critical.” Jessica Osborn, CEO, Caribou | #APF26

“The point of philanthropy is about derisking all projects. The way we have funded AI and tech doesn’t reflect the power we have as philanthropists. We can talk about impact, but it’s not something we can achieve soon. It’s a scale. It calls for us to go into it together with capital holders. We can’t think and fund in silos. We also need to contribute to decision-making through collaboration, and we need patient capital.” Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Portfolio Director, Africa, Luminate | #APF26

“When we fund, we should think about the entire ecosystem. We don’t have a lot of researchers or African voices in the data sector. We can fund innovation and governance only later.” Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Portfolio Director, Africa, Luminate | #APF26

“I have a challenge for this community. We’ve recognised the gaps in AI, but someone will bridge that gap. It will help reduce the amount of time used on due diligence, yes, but if it is used to automate people’s roles or decide who gets in or not, that will not work. We need to be present in the room where it’s being decided how AI will shape the future.” Toyin Akinniyi, Regional Portfolio Director, Africa, Luminate | #APF26

“If you’re thinking about working with someone in the arts, ask them. You never know, if you don’t ask you won’t get a yes.” Julia Quinn, Author, Bridgerton series | Goodwill Ambassador and Board Member, Landesa | #APF26

“Bridgerton gave me the opportunity to exercise more philanthropy in a way I’ve always wanted to.” Julia Quinn, Author, Bridgerton series | Goodwill Ambassador and Board Member, Landesa | #APF26

“Bridgerton has allowed for different, previously ignored demographics being brought to the spotlight in ways they previously weren’t.” Julia Quinn, Author, Bridgerton series | Goodwill Ambassador and Board Member, Landesa | #APF26

“We need to implore everyone in the room to always have the future in your mind when you make decisions, have young people in mind.” Matthew Ilube, Trustee, African Gifted Foundation (AGF) | #APF26

“Sports is a powerful unifier in the world, sports gives individuals the drive to get to the top as the path is quite clear. The youth seeing people like them get to high levels, give them the hope that they can also get there. Philanthropy can be seen in the view of sports, giving people a different perspective of growth.” Matthew Ilube, Trustee, African Gifted Foundation (AGF) | #APF26

“It’s important to have a network of likeminded people, we need to hear more of young peoples voices to have more significant voices being heard, how can we start bringing young people to conferences, because a very important perspective of philanthropy is not only today but the future.” Matthew Ilube, Trustee, African Gifted Foundation (AGF) | #APF26