Self-driving cars already outperform human drivers. SA’s response to the coronavirus shows that in today’s rapidly evolving, intensely competitive and integrated world, artificial intelligence (AI) can objectively unpack data that politicians unwillingly — and willingly — misinterpret.

That people with shared values and interests form groups is as central to democracies as debating. Unfortunately, the ANC developed a formidable playbook for sidelining objective arguments by wrapping issues around contested values. Current moral grandstanding includes banning alcohol and tobacco trading. Prohibiting cooked food sales is used as a metaphor for confronting inequality. ..

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