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The classroom of the future has a new teaching assistant: a robot.
And this isn't some far-off Silicon Valley experiment. IRIS, an AI-powered humanoid tutor robot developed by KZN company BSG and Technologies, is being introduced to South African schools, with its next big chapter taking shape at Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone.
The company has opened an IRIS showroom at Dube TradePort and plans to establish a manufacturing facility in the zone, potentially putting Durban on the map as a hub for locally produced educational robotics.
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What can IRIS actually do?
Think of IRIS as a very high-tech teaching assistant.
The humanoid robot is designed to interact directly with learners, answering questions, explaining concepts, assisting with assessments and supporting teachers.
According to BSG and Technologies, IRIS can teach multiple subjects from Grade R through Grade 12 and into tertiary education. It is designed to support the South African curriculum, as well as private and independent school programmes.
And then there's the language offering.
IRIS can communicate and teach in all 11 official South African languages, with BSG and Technologies saying the technology can work across more than 7 000 languages globally.
The idea isn't to replace teachers. Instead, the company says IRIS is designed to provide additional educational support and make individualised learning more accessible, particularly in communities where teachers and resources are stretched.
This technology can also be customised also be customised for uses beyond the classroom, including corporate training, presentation and other sector-specific applications.
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From Hluhluwe to Dube TradePort
The story behind IRIS is almost as interesting as the robot itself.
BSG and Technologies was founded in KwaMnqobokazi, Hluhluwe, in 2017 as BSG Community Development, initially focusing on science, technology, education, and community development.
By 2020, the organisation had evolved into BSG and Technologies, expanding its focus to Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, artificial intelligence, coding, robotics, and digital education.
Founder and CEO Bonisiwe ‘Thandoh’ Gumede says the company's ambition is to make advanced educational support accessible to learners across Africa.
“Our vision is to ensure that every learner, regardless of location or circumstance, has access to world-class educational support powered by artificial intelligence. Through IRIS, we are building a future where technology enhances teaching, empowers learners and creates opportunities for communities across Africa.”
Its move into Dube TradePort puts the project in one of KZN’s major commercial and industrial investment zones, with access to digital infrastructure aimed at supporting technology-driven businesses.
Dube TradePort CEO Hamish Erskine says the organisation is proud to support businesses like BSG and Technologies, highlighting infrastructure including local data centres and a high-speed fibre-optic network.
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IRIS is already heading to South African classrooms
This isn't just a flashy robot waiting for its big debut.
The rollout of IRIS to local schools is already underway through the National IRIS Lab School Campaign, with five schools initially receiving the technology:
- Amangwe High School
- Mgidla Secondary School
- Ekuthuthukeni Secondary School
- George Caltex Primary School
- Intakemazolo Combined School
BSG and Technologies says it has already built more than 2 000 IRIS robots internationally, while private schools in South Africa have also placed orders.
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Nomalungelo Gina says the project has progressed from an innovation demonstration to something with the potential to influence teaching and learning more broadly.
“It is encouraging to see the progress that BSG and Technologies has made since we launched IRIS last year. What began as an exciting demonstration of South African innovation is now evolving into a solution with the potential to transform teaching and learning across our country and beyond.”
Could Durban become a hub for educational robotics?
The next big step for IRIS is manufacturing.
BSG and Technologies plans to establish an IRIS manufacturing facility at Dube TradePort, with the goal of increasing local production and eventually distributing the technology internationally.
The company currently employs 15 people and more than 20 000 employment opportunities over the next five years as local manufacturing and global distribution expand.
Those opportunities could span everything from AI and software engineering to robotics, manufacturing and assembly, as well as technical support, education, logistics, sales and training.
If those plans come together, the classroom of the future may not feel quite so futuristic after all.
And for Durban, it could mean something even bigger: a South African-made teaching robot finding its way from Dube TradePort into classrooms here and around the world.
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