Artificial intelligence is making inroads into the corporate world; and in South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa recently established the Presidential Commission on the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Its role is to assist the government in taking advantage of the opportunities presented by the digital industrial revolution. But there are some misconceptions about AI -- something that Duke Corporate Education planned to dispel at its annual event in Johannesburg. Angelo Coppola reports.

The keynote address at the event was delivered by Dr. David Hanson, creator of SOPHIA, an internationally renowned AI platform.

DR DAVID HANSON, FOUNDER HANSON ROBOTICS "We have really pushed the envelope of manufacturability of the quality of the facial expressions, of the consistency, of the manufacturing design, the intersection of arts and the engineering, into the whole system that we can use to help people."

AI and robotics can fulfill some tasks and do so more efficiently. But at this stage that's limited.

FREDERIK LANGENHOVEN, SALES MANAGER COBOTS "I think it depends on how many repetitive tasks do you do in your day to day activities. If you do a lot of that, yes, there's a possibility. If you don't do a lot of the same task over and over, not soon at all. Having said that, some tasks are easier to automate than others."

On a broader level, HANSON is looking at AI to get involved in creativity and blue sky thinking.

DR DAVID HANSON, FOUNDER HANSON ROBOTICS "Caring machines, machines that enhance humanity's capacity for creativity, enhance the survival of life on the planet, like super benevolent, super intelligence and it's not just AI that would achieve that but this synergy with our machines."

Automation has played a pivotal role in the industrialization of the globe.

FREDERIK LANGENHOVEN, SALES MANAGER COBOTS "Automation enables companies to grow and to go forward. Look at the car you're driving, will that car be affordable for you and I, if it was handmade. So automation and robotics definitely drive the future, not only the future, the current as well, but the future of the consumer items we can afford."

There are some concerns that AI could be misused.

DR DAVID HANSON, FOUNDER HANSON ROBOTICS "Finding out how AI can help us and noting and seeing the way that it could maybe complicate our lives. And choosing the right path, while at the same time not forgetting to let ourselves dream a little bit."

ANGELO COPPOLA JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA "There's no question that artificial intelligence has a role to play in the survival and continued survival of the planet. I'm Angelo Coppola for CGTN in JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA."