At the September event, hundreds of delegates, including resellers and vendors, confronted the multifaceted future of rapid artificial intelligence adoption, its risks, and its opportunities.
Coming to grips with the countless applications and potential unexpected innovations and risks in Artificial Intelligence adoption drove the central theme of the Rectron Summit 2024: Future Forward With AI.
The annual ICT conference connected Rectron’s network of dealers and vendors from across South Africa, even some abroad, to unlock opportunities through emerging technology.
“Artificial intelligence had been a part of humanity for decades already, gradually progressing from experimental settings in the 1950s to the emergence of machine learning in the 1990s, to becoming a mainstream reality across people’s personal and professional lives,” said Spencer Chen, Rectron chief executive.
“By 2024, we saw a rapid acceleration and proliferation of AI applications, from virtual assistants, image (and speech) recognition, natural language processing, predictive analytics, autonomous vehicles, health and biotech, with countless sectors embracing the efficiencies and innovative solutions AI unlocked.
“AI use, while promising, came with ethical, as well as technical questions that needed to be addressed, from the impact on public opinion, jobs, AI autonomy, and the security of powerful AI systems against cyber threats or unintended system activity,” he added.
The Rectron Summit 2024 took place on 12 September at The Focus Rooms in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, showcasing emerging technology while providing support for resellers to upskill and keep up with a rapidly evolving tech marketplace. In line with Rectron’s key ethos of “improving lives,” the event offered resellers a first-hand experience of new tech, new markets, and global technology trends with a multi-faceted programme based on three themes:
- Harnessing AI
The programme explored the benefits of integrating AI and related technologies into workspaces, enhancing customer and operational experiences by streamlining processes and accelerating deliverables.
- Accessibility
AI demonstrated its ability to open untapped avenues for businesses, offering advanced solutions. It regulated access to information, creating more inclusive digital experiences for a larger audience.
- Security
Like any new tool, attendees needed to understand the opportunities AI offered and how to use it safely and effectively. Businesses, whether large or small, were empowered with advanced security options to prevent data compromise, ensuring a secure environment.
As the AI market matured rapidly, full-scale deployment increased across all sectors of technology for businesses and households. Businesses that recognised the value of investing in AI reaped significant rewards.
Rectron’s partnership with its vendors was essential in bringing their shared vision to life. The showroom floor highlighted the latest AI-related products Rectron offered, featuring South Africa’s most important brands, alongside key stage presentations by industry experts on AI and its role in business. Workshops, breakaway presentations, and demonstrations kept attendees, media, and retailers engaged.
“With the pace of AI adoption, including the unprecedented uptake of systems like ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot by the broader population, along with the rise in AI-powered drones for numerous industrial applications, consumers and businesses alike needed a reliable support infrastructure to navigate the intended and unintended effects of AI on human society,” concludes Chen.