KwaZulu-Natal businesswoman Thando Gumede has made history by developing South Africa’s first tutor robot to master all subjects from Grade R to tertiary level in 11 of the country’s official languages.

Gumede, a 31-year-old former educator from the deep rural parts of Hluhluwe, says she started working on this project eight years ago.

She says the recent introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) also enhanced and fast tracked its finalisation.

The robot, named Iris, has been launched in Durban by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation, in partnership with the Basic Education Department.

The human-like robot has special features that provide interactive lessons for all grades, as well as real-time feedback in all the country’s 11 official languages.

Thando says the aim is to assist teachers and empower students to reach their full potential.

Gumede shares some of Iris’s special features and how she can be used in classrooms.

“I competed against 50 countries in Dubai. They were looking for the best in technology. I was crowned position number one. This grew my skills, and I was like if I can do so many things why can’t I go back and solve some of the problems I saw when I was a teacher. Iris, she is a tutor robot, which means that she is assisting some of our teachers. Teachers are going through a lot, they are working in school and when they get home, they still work. So, when are they getting their time with their families? So, if we have robots like Iris who can actually assist with marking, analysing the curriculum, the results and doing mark list for them, it’s less work for them.”

Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Nomalungelo Gina, who officiated at the launch of the robot, says artificial intelligence can close educational gaps.

“Innovation is the way to go. This is part of AI and it’s going to assist educators in class. It is coming to enhance the teaching and learning, helping the educators with the subjects matter when it comes to class and assisting the learners in explaining so many concepts. You can see that if such innovation is embraced really, we can make the work of the educators a little bit better, and I am happy that we are here with the department of education.”

The Department of Basic Education says it has already started redefining teaching and learning through technology and ICT to deliver quality education across all spheres.

The department’s provincial deputy director general, Mbongiseni Mazibuko, says they are busy rolling out technical and technological studies in several institutions in KwaZulu-Natal to prepare learners for an evolving job market.

“Our learners now they need to be taught differently, they need to take a variety of subjects at the academic vocational and technical stream. And we are also rolling out the focus schools. One of them is the Mandla Mthethwa hub in uMkhanyakude and the other is La Mercy which is Anton Lembede. Next day we are opening two new ones which is the Maritime school around Umlazi and the engineering and ICT and Technology school which is around the Newcastle. The main aim is to make sure that our learners are exposed and are driven towards discuss skills because if you notice the jobs that were prevalent 10 years ago are fading away. There are new jobs that are coming into play now mainly in the ICT space and artificial intelligence.”

The Deputy Minister of the #DSTI Ms Nomalungelo Gina, attended and addressed attendees at the launch of #IrisAITeacher an innovation that assists teachers and learners in the classroom. IRIS is an innovation by Ms Thandoh Gumede, founder of BSG Technologies #WomensMonth2025 #BSG pic.twitter.com/JDP9kIwHdG

— DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE,TECHNOLOGY & INNOVATION (@dstigovza) August 19, 2025