All the African Union (AU) member states have approved an African Union strategy for AI and a digital compact.
The strategy is expected to help member states prevent the unethical use of the technology to preserve the African identity, language, and culture. So far, only seven AU member states have a national AI strategy.
The evolution of artificial intelligence as a transformation in the digital space has for a while sparked conversations regarding exploring its gains and mitigating its ills.
It’s use in advancing productivity in the various sectors of the economy cannot be overemphasised.
According to the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy, and Digitalization at the AU Commission, Dr. Abou-Zeid, member states approved the AU strategy for AI as well as the Digital Compact to ensure that the technology is used to enhance development.
”Yesterday, the AU approved a strategy for AI and the digital compact for all the AU member states. This is good news, and I am excited because look, whether you like it or not, as you wake up and switch on your phone, someone has already documented what you are doing on the phone that day. It’s good we leverage on, it’s good but we cannot also overlook the ills. This technology is obviously not tailored for the African, so we need to have a strategy to ensure we preserve our cultures, languages and who we are,” she explained at the 45th Ordinary Session of the AU on July 19.
All the African Union member states are encouraged to have their own strategy since only 7 of them currently have a national strategy for AI use.
The AU Commission is planning to host the 1st ever African AI summit on October 9, 2024.
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