Event report
Back To | The AI Shift: Unlocking Potential Through Innovation
On Tuesday, 22 October 2025, the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI), in collaboration with the Belgian Chamber of Commerce for Southern Africa (BCCSA), attended the final chapter of The AI Event at the Wesgro Auditorium in Cape Town. The event was hosted with the support of Wesgro and the Consulate General of Belgium.
The event brought together AI specialists and business leaders from South Africa and Belgium for a dynamic programme of keynote presentations, live demonstrations, and panel discussions exploring the future of artificial intelligence across industries.
Jacques Burger, COO of Octoco Consulting, opened with a compelling keynote on South Africa’s AI landscape, and highlighted how AI can unlock the country’s full potential for human capital when used as a strategic tool, not a shortcut.
Live from Ghent, Jan De Loore and Hans Buyse of AI.Candy showcased how AI is revolutionising creative industries, from ad production to voiceovers and digital avatars. Their presentation sparked conversations around the ethical and artistic boundaries of synthetic media.
A recorded interview with Julia Beatrice Toussaint (TalentGuide, Belgium) explored how AI might make HR more human, while the panel discussion, which featured Jacques Burger, Herman Lintvelt (Octoco AI), Donovan Risk (Aeon Wolf), and Sibylle Pfeiffer (Wesgro), discussed about the challenges of implementing AI in business, from data governance to trust and transformation.
The event concluded with a presentation by Belgium Campus students on an AI powered tool they worked on, followed by networking over Belgian waffles and coffee.
A warm thank you to BCCSA, Wesgro, and the Consulate General of Belgium for hosting this insightful and forward-looking event.
