Feedback on the 5th IFLA Symposium on AI – South Africa

The 5th IFLA Symposium on AI was held on 16–20 June, 2025 hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Library in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa (https://ailib.ukzn.ac.za/). Held in collaboration with the IT Section and AI SIG, the event was a resounding success. There were nearly a hundred attendees from 17 countries.

The 4.5 day program included a tour of the Midlands region, Gandhi memorial, Mandela capture site, and UKZN library. Other highlights included the launch of a robot to be deployed in the library aptly named Thola (Zulu word for “find”), a workshop on human-centered AI, presentations, and panel discussions.

The Local Organizing Committee led by Dr Nonhlanhla Ngcobo, Library Director, did an amazing job in delivering a memorable event.  A couple of feedback quotes:

“… a well-curated and inspiring conference filled with rich, thought-provoking sessions, perfectly coordinated activities”

“The venue was superb, the programme was intellectually stimulating, and the excursions … added an unforgettable dimension to the experience. Every detail reflected excellence and professionalism”.

The event was also covered by the local press, including “Discover how AI is revolutionising libraries” (https://tinyurl.com/y7yuf4ah).

Capping the event was the interactive drafting of the Commitment to Responsible AI Use which was well received by the attendees. Overall, the event was a resounding success.