South Africa’s vice president, Paul Mashatile, sat down with Russian students to chat about the double-edged sword of AI—its potential and its pitfalls. The discussion, held during an international forum, touched on how emerging tech could reshape economies and societies, but also the need to handle it carefully.

Editor’s Note: It’s not every day you see a high-profile African leader engaging directly with Russian youth on a global issue like AI. This signals how the conversation around tech risks is going truly international, beyond the usual Western-dominated forums. Plus, it’s a subtle nod to the growing ties between African nations and Russia, with tech as the diplomatic bridge.