WATCH | This is how FirstRand is using AI to help its 3,000 engineers work faster - and better. AI tools boost productivity for engineers while keeping humans in control. Journalist Story audio is generated using AI FirstRand is using artificial intelligence (AI) to help its estimated 3,000 engineers work faster and improve the quality of digital financial services while keeping human developers responsible for the final outcomes. Speaking at the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Summit in Joburg on Wednesday, FirstRand Group chief digital officer Kevin Mitchell said the financial services group faced growing demands from customers and needed to give it's engineers "more leverage" without compromising service reliability. The summit brings together technology leaders, businesses and developers to explore cloud computing, AI, digital transformation and application modernisation. Mitchell said early AI coding assistants were useful but limited because they did not understand the full environment in which developers worked. "We don't have everything figured out. Every week, there's a new learning that comes up." - Kevin Mitchell, FirstRand Group's chief digital officer The group therefore trained its AI tools using the same information available to human engineers, including functional requirements, test plans, architecture standards and security controls. "The quality of AI-generated code depends least on the individual prompt, but more on the quality of the organisation's specifications," Mitchell said. "The speed becomes the steering wheel for both the engineer as well as the AI agent." However, Mitchell rejected the idea that AI should replace engineers or remove human responsibility from the development process. "AI can accelerate the work, but it does not determine the outcome," he said, stressing that human engineers remained accountable. FirstRand began rolling out its AI coding tools through practical training and workshops, allowing engineers to test the technology on real projects. He said adoption depended on giving employees time and support to understand the tools rather than imposing them from the top. "We don't have everything figured out. Every week, there's a new learning that comes up," Mitchell said, adding that the long-term benefit could extend beyond productivity and innovation. He also said lower costs could enable financial institutions to develop and offer services to more people. "If the cost of value creation drops, we can also enable greater financial inclusion," he said. Jonathan Allen, AWS executive in residence, said traditional workplaces often required employees to move between multiple platforms, databases and applications to complete a single task. "What you need is scattered - across messaging, email, dashboard... and every tool you add creates more spaces, another login, another data source, another place where context goes to die," he said. "The promise was intelligence. What we actually got was a slightly faster search bar." Allen said agentic AI could understand an intended outcome and determine the steps required to achieve it. "You don't want to be the only person in this tool. You need your organisation to collectively have this connectivity," he said.

FirstRand Volunteers mobilise 2,500 employees nationwide to honour Mandela's legacy through action. As South Africans prepare to honour the legacy of Nelson Mandela, FirstRand Volunteers (FRV) will mobilise 2,500 employees across all nine provinces throughout July to support vulnerable communities through a coordinated Mandela Month volunteer activation focused on food security, sustainability and community support. Working alongside long-standing community partner Meals on Wheels, employees from FirstRand Volunteers offices across the country will pack 2,500 nutritious food parcels for vulnerable families, while also creating food-producing garden planters for schools, early childhood development centres, old age homes and community-based organisations. Valued at over R10 million, this year's Mandela Month programme includes food supplies, agricultural inputs, garden infrastructure, seedlings, compost, irrigation support, and ongoing training to help beneficiary organisations feed communities today while building the capacity to grow food sustainably into the future. The initiative will reach approximately 50 to 60 beneficiary organisations across South Africa, many of which provide daily meals, education, care and support services to children, elderly people and vulnerable families. The volunteer activations are designed to turn Mandela Month into more than a single day of service. By bringing employees together around a shared purpose, FirstRand Volunteers aims to strengthen its culture of volunteering while supporting organisations that deliver lasting impact beyond July. "Nelson Mandela Month reminds us that meaningful change starts with action. Through the FirstRand Volunteers Programme, our employees are coming together across the country to deliver both immediate relief and long-term food security solutions for the communities we serve." says Kone Gugushe, Head of Social Investing at FirstRand Group. Meals on Wheels has been serving vulnerable communities across South Africa for decades, helping address hunger through food distribution while promoting longer-term food security through community gardens and sustainable planting initiatives. Through this partnership, FirstRand Volunteers will contribute to both immediate relief and longer-term community resilience. Across the country, volunteers will rotate between two core activities during each activation: packing food parcels for vulnerable families and planting vegetable seedlings and assembling garden planters for beneficiary organisations. Each activation will be supported by Meals on Wheels facilitators, programme coordinators and community partners. The initiative forms part of FirstRand's broader employee volunteering programme, which encourages colleagues to use their time and skills to support registered causes that matter to them while creating meaningful social impact.

FirstRand Foundation supports the transformation of Johannesburg's inner city through solar lighting. The FirstRand Foundation (FRF) has partnered with Jozi My Jozi, a leading non-profit urban renewal initiative, to roll out a large-scale solar streetlighting project aimed at transforming safety, visibility and economic activity across Johannesburg's CBD. This partnership represents a significant investment in sustainable infrastructure and community upliftment, with FRF providing funding for the installation of 2160 solar-powered streetlights. Jozi My Jozi is responsible for the full implementation lifecycle, including planning, installation, ownership and ongoing maintenance of the infrastructure. The project will see the deployment of 2160 standard solar streetlights equipped with integrated cameras, enhancing both visibility and security in high-traffic and vulnerable areas. Designed for efficiency, the system converts just three hours of sunlight into up to 40 hours of continuous lighting, offering a reliable, low-cost and environmentally responsible solution for the inner city. At a total investment of approximately R22 million, the initiative is expected to deliver meaningful social and economic impact. Improved lighting will support safer streets for pedestrians and motorists, encourage extended trading hours for local businesses, and contribute to reduced carbon emissions and energy costs. The partnership is underpinned by a shared commitment to driving measurable, long-term impact. The Jozi My Jozi project aligns with FRF's Building Thriving and Resilient Communities focus by delivering an integrated urban intervention that improves safety, enables inclusive and vibrant public spaces, and stimulates local economic activity in Johannesburg's inner city. The project strengthens social cohesion, supports green economic opportunities, and drives inclusive, resilient urban development. Beyond infrastructure, the project is expected to stimulate job creation through installation, maintenance and monitoring activities, while also contributing to broader urban regeneration efforts. With more than 535 solar streetlights already installed, the initiative marks a major step towards scaling sustainable solutions across the city. Progress will be tracked through key indicators including the number of lights installed, crime statistics, evening business activity and employment opportunities created. The initiative also operates within a structured governance framework, ensuring transparency, accountability and long-term sustainability. This collaboration demonstrates how strategic partnerships can translate philanthropic intent into tangible outcomes - restoring dignity, enabling economic participation and contributing to a safer, more inclusive Johannesburg.