Regulatory bodies worldwide are increasingly creating a regulatory environment that enables the development of artificial intelligence.
ONEfrica is accelerating efforts to ensure that Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are managed to maximize benefits and prevent harm.
In this context, African technology experts attended last week’s inaugural AI for Good Global Summit convened by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which brought together a wide range of participants from around the world.
Adoption of AI policy has been quite slow among African countries with only Mauritius, Kenya and Egypt having clear guidelines, rules and principles on how AI technology should be used and developed.
Policymakers in South Africa and Nigeria are still in the process of consulting stakeholders on the introduction of AI policies, while others, such as Morocco, have yet to propose guidelines on AI regulation.
AI policymaking has become urgent in Africa as the continent’s innovators move at speed to harness computer intelligence to accelerate the continent’s economic and social development. Key sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education and public safety are adopting the problem-solving capabilities of artificial intelligence to drive development on the continent.
Africa was invited to take advantage of ITU’s new AI Governance Day report, which details key insights and recommendations from policy discussions aimed at guiding stakeholders in developing effective AI governance strategies.
βRegulatory bodies worldwide are increasingly codifying these principles into specific regulations, creating a regulatory environment that affects the development of artificial intelligence.
βAmid this regulatory evolution, a gap has emerged between regulation and the current state of technology and tools for monitoring and controlling AI systems. This gap poses significant risks and highlights the need for advanced tools to ensure effective AI governance,β the new report states.
ITU’s Artificial Intelligence Governance Day focused on how countries and regions can balance maximizing the benefits of AI while minimizing its risks. Participants shared experiences of effective practices, identified barriers and explored pathways forward.
m.